Echoes of Scotland Street Book Review

I adore Cole right from the beginning of the series for his calm nature and also his respect for women in his life. He shows kindness in his own unique way and protects all the women folk in the story.
It was his mother's own bad luck that she couldn't understand the love of her own son.

Cole is kind and smart, loyal and compassionate, strong and talented & brave and forgiving.
However, Cole's picture from the cover page of the book seems to be much older and manly. I imagined him to be a bit kind faced guy instead of rough. There are way too many hot guys in the story so far, and I am beginning to wonder if the hotness even exists in real world.

The story of Joss and Braden seemed a long time ago. In fact there's been a description at some point in the story, where Braden is described to be having white freckles and is now 42.I do not know where time flew by.

Ending of the story is just apt for Cole.

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

Fall from India Place.. A downfall book in the series

The story started may be seven years later. Of Course the story needs to have a time jump considering the age Hannah was at in the previous book. She is now 22, and working as a teacher. After reading this book, it's definitely worth getting to know how the life of a teacher might be given that you are single. There's definitely lot of marking to do, multiple versions of the same essay to read, most interesting part being to bring about a change in student's life.

Though it's good catching up on the life's of other old characters, I am having trouble remembering all the kids that are now born in to the story. Because there are too may and they are too loud.I get it that she is now 22. Just when I was wondering what happened to the little kid Declan, there he comes with his girlfriend and he is now 18. No surprise there. All of them have grown up clearly. 

One dialogue I found a bit funny in the story - 
" When you screw up, and if you're married you're bound to screw up at some point, it's good to have detailed notes of your partner's screw ups because that way you can remind them, and forgiveness for your screw up comes much more quickly. Peace reigns.

However, I found the story of Hanna quite emotional. She falling in love with her childhood crush, he deserting her, she dealing with miscarriage, leading the life of a teacher, dealing with a student's death, encountering Marco again and learning about his family. Though she hung on to her childhood crush Marco, some where in the back of my mind I feel sorry for her, since Marco already had a kid from some other girl.

This book from the series, I do not want to go back and read it all over again, just like how I did for the others.

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

My Not So Perfect Life - Just like mine

It is great to have a humor side to a romance cadre novel. After Princess diaries this book is the one I had seen with humor touche. Realized now that my favorites are with these type of quirky books. You have silly girl, family bonding, building a career, independent life, love comes to you at the end. Everything I need and it's perfect. Just reading the words from the book, cleared my clogged brain. Started reading this book just to keep my brain getting damaged with all the romance from On Dublin Street series. And look what I have here. A winner that is. My mind is now completely free of jargon. It got dumped in a dump yard. And I can see myself floating in the air with new ideas projecting all around me.

First of all the things I like to give clarity on. I do not want a perfect life. I like clutter. I like my ups and downs. May be I learnt that too quickly. May be I got the image of happy life reading books, May be I always knew every beginning has a happy ending. May be I always knew we have to search for happiness in tiny little things that life has to offer.

God I missed this type of writing. It is now officially decided I have to read Sophie kinsella's books just like I read Meg Cabot's. Looking forward to more fun !! This is FUN !!

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

Castle Hill - Book 3.5 of On Dublin Street series

The story is narrated by Joss in the first hand and covers all the missed bits of her life story with Braden. Though we get to learn from other books what Joss and Braden are up to, here in Castle hill only we have a look at their life in detail. Reading the story tells about how comfortable they are with each other in their relationship. A girl can only dream about being comfortable with her partner. Both of them should be approachable. 

As the cover says, First comes Love, then comes Marriage - I don't quite agree with it. See in my case, I had an arranged marriage. We never shared love before our wedding. It only occurred gradually after I get to know my hubby. The first time we met at our parents place, we didn't have a bond or spark. It is not until the week before our wedding we met and I realized there is some serious heart-to-heart connection going on here. How-so-ever, I feel that true love (that comes from the bottom of the heart) only grows stronger with time. Well, Best Of Luck to me !!

My mind is now full of Joss and Braden and their love. I am not able to think much other than these three words. I need a break from romance. I am dead serious. Don't you dare get the idea that I am acting like Joss. I am out of words to write a review about any other book. Hands and brain ran out of romantic words to write in a blog. See I am blabbering here. I seriously mean it. I need a break !!

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

Before Jamaica Lane - Book 3 from On Dublin Street series

I expected the story to be of Olivia after reading the last chapter of 'Down London Road'. She is the new girl in town and I wanted to know more about her. Again Samantha Young did not disappoint in making us learn the story of Olivia. 

It is about a person who wants to have confidence in herself. She is always fighting to get her confidence in front of boys as all her adulthood had been full of responsibilities and she doesn't even know how to approach the opposite sex. The character Olivia from the story makes us learn an important thing and that is - Always believe in you.. and be you. No matter what. 

Talking about belief if you consider my opinion, a life is not worth living if you get to act. We can only enjoy each and every moment if and only if we be our self. None can be a perfect human being at the beginning. We need to stick to the originality in us, as long as it doesn't hurt others. We can have attitude, as long as it doesn't hurt others. By any chance, you feel that you are hurting your love by your attitude, immediately change. If the change you made is good for others, then it makes you happy. If you are happy, that is all that matters in this world. From what I said above, it doesn't mean you have to think about other and make changes in yourself. Sometimes, you need not think of the world as long as you stick to your character basics.

What I observed from beginning of the series is that the female characters in the story are of the below age groups:

1) Joss - Just graduated
2) Jo - 24 years
3) Olivia - 26 years

Had I not been pregnant with my girl by the time I read this story, I would have definitely felt left out. The reason is that Joss is pregnant with Braden's child and then there is Olivia at the end of the story who confirms her pregnancy too. Well, I now know how awesome it feels to be pregnant with a child from your beloved one. Hatsoff to being a mother !!

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

Until Fountain Bridge - Book 1.5 from On Dublin street series

Ellie is such a sweet girl with lots of romance in her head. She has positive attitude and brings about positive vibes in the people around her. It is fun learning about her love story with Adam. Since she is a romance freak, great learning the story from Ellie's numerous diaries. She is quite detailed about the events in her life. Samantha Young, you sure can surprise me. I am happy to learn the love details of each and every character from the story. Thank God there isn't much SXX from Ellie side. A reader like me want to see her as a sweet and loving girl of the story instead of a woman who can choose any man she wants. Glad to learn the possessiveness of Adam and how Braden had been a great brother to her little sister.

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

Christmas and Halloween On Dublin Street

It is good to know about the life of Braden and Joss after they confessed their love for each other. Though the characters are still alive in the later parts of the series, it is fun knowing how they celebrated Christmas and Halloween together before there are lots and lots of characters jumping in to the story. Can't wait to read more from the series.

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon.. Ek Baar Phir

I loved watching this show on hotstar. Though it took 8 months for me to complete the show, the end is worth the time. The last episodes had been great. Simply great. While the first part is more fun watching. Ek Baar Phir is more on the emotional side. Every character is related to the story and lead characters emotionally. In the first part only Dee is emotional and sentimental. But here, wow there are lots and lots of characters and each one of them is apt to their role. Every story line has a detailed ending and it is good. The love shown at the beginning is not much. But in the final episodes, Shlok's efforts are to die for. Who doesn't want his man to fight for her. Who doesn't want his man to make her realise his love for her though she doesn't remember anything.

Look at Shlok - who wouldn't love his character. 

His attitude - I loved it.

His approach towards love - He feels Aastha is his everything. Without her there is no life worth living.

The way he treats Aastha - wow apt description to the character. He is a negative lead role.

It is rude to not talk about Aastha. Well, Aastha is Aastha. She is simple and fun-loving.

Overall, loved the show from the beginning. None of the characters plot is disappointing.

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

Down London Road.. You can overcome insecurities

Surprise ! Even though this book is 2nd in the series "On Dublin Street", the story is not about Joss and Braden whom I adore. But about another random character from Book One. Guess who? Jo from Joss's night bar. Interesting to learn that Joss and Braden characters are still there as part of "Down London Road". It is a different idea to continue books in a series. Good to know that the series evolves with different characters as main lead. 

The story is not as interesting as Joss and Braden's was. I did not quite like Jo and Cam's chemistry. After reading most part of the story, learnt that the story is not about Cam and Jo relationship. Funnily, it is about the relationship between Jo and her insecurities. There isn't as much passion in love as expected. After reading Book 1, obviously the hopes for reading another passionate love story would be high. But I am dissapointed here. 

Anyways, the story is about how Jo overcome her insecurities and settled in life. What I observed is that, when the right person comes to our life it is only then we take the initiative to overcome the negatives we have in us. God would definitely send the right person at some point or the other in life. "Ravatam koncham late aina, ravatam mathram pakka." We just have to wait patiently for that moment to come in our life. I am glad that I waited for my hubby to be in my life. Got a feeling that he is the one. He is the one who triggered a lot of changes in me and I am definitely loving the new me. 

The story only got interesting when Cam suddenly disappeared from Jo's life after a fight and she got attacked brutally by her dad. And the ending is the obvious. Jo and Cam became a couple only after Jo overcome her insecuirites because of her trust in Cam.

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

On Dublin Street.. there is something to learn

As far as I remember this is the first book I am reading where in the female character suffers from a family loss in the story. Also, that I am reading a romance story set up in London for the first time. It is quite deviating and interesting in knowing that the location backdrop has changed than the usual United States and it's neighbouring locations.

In the story, the female lead character Joss/Jocelyn is asked to take one day at a time to deal with the pain and not to think too much about the future. For this I have a theory in place. When we come out of parent's protection and start to live on our own, it is quite easy to get carried away with life. 

There are two categories in people.

(1) Who always wanted to come out of parent's place and start to earn their own reputation, as my brother. They have a perfect plan on how to live, what to do, how to grow forward in their career.

(2) Who doesn't know what it would be like to move away from parent's. They can never imagine nor they have a perfect plan on what all to do when they are on their own, like me.

From the story just like Joss, even I lived one day at a time. There is no one to tell me what to do and what not to do. Suddenly I started living life systematically with my parents advice creeping in between. Never had I been taught what it would be like in the next step of my life. Like I was never told what Intermediate would be like when I was in school, never taught what Engineering would be like when in Intermediate. Anyways, back to the story.

When we come out of parent's protection and start to live on our own, it is quite easy to get carried away with life. We plan on how to lead our life, plan on how our life should be, what needs to be done for it.. everything is planned. What principles we intent to keep and how to rule our life. I am saying being independant is not bad. Wanted to be away from parent's watchful eyes is also not bad. What is bad is thinking too much about the future, making a list of impossible things which needs to be done in future instead of taking one day at a time. This whole concept is shown in the story of Joss, who sets certain rules about her life and wants to live by them. Of Course, even we tend to be stubborn at times. If the rules are promising enough then it is good. Following rules that we set for ourselves quite not possible. Rather I would say, possible for certain time but not always. As a person, we evolve. So, does the world around us. So, does the people around us. The rules once set by us may not always work even for us. We need to change. Rules need to be changed. For all this to happen we need to live in the present and for that all we have to do is take one day at a time. 

In this book, both the lead characters have a lot of money from inheritance which they can spend at their will. This is the first of it's kind and I am not able to relate to. I always came across stories that depict the life of the female leading a normal life and male would come in to her life changing everything and showing her the time of her life. Hero is the one who man's up all the time and treats her as a princess. 

Also, I found that this book is all about a girl who fights her own fears and in order to overcome that she takes one day at a time, even though the future looms over her as suggested by the good doctor in the story. I must say after reading Nicholas Sparks I cry a lot. I relate the emotions and feelings there. Though I mentioned earlier that I cannot relate to the rich lead characters of the story, here I am crying over the emotions that spilled in the story 'On Dublin Street'. It is Samantha Young and I ought to remember her name the next time I get to read her work.

To make the long story short, there are some points in the story which are good to read and learn lessons from. Actually the meaning of reading a book is the same. You need to learn some thing or the other at the end of the story. Let the lesson be small or big. There is always some thing in a book that you can look forward to and adapt in your life.

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

Insufferable Proximity.. Another 50 Shades

This post is in red color because it's Heaven's favorite color.

Reading this book is just like 50 Shades of Grey series but the writing is quite immature. In other words, Insufferable Proximity is MASS where as 50 Shades of Grey is CLASS. Of course, why wouldn't I compare the two. It felt as if I am reading a draft version of 50 Shades copy all wrapped up in 477 pages book. What else can I review on this book which brushed my memory of 50 Shades. Of Course there is difference between Grey and Mr.king. Everyone in the story knew what Mr.King does. There isn't anything private about him. Every single random character that entered the scene knew Mr.King. However, the inner spirit of the male lead character in both the stories is the same. They take care of their girl as if she is the one and only Princess. 

The funny part of the story comes when Heaven's (Or should I call her Sevigne) mother enters the story. The battalion of Madame every time she comes in her white limo is somewhat different. It brought fun and grandeur to the story.

Also in this book, Heaven's part is highlighted with a lot of significant background. 

Overall, it is an OK one time read if considered as a draft version to 50 shades minus the glider and minus the Charlie Tango.

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy

The Whistler by John Grisham Book Review

I read this book after my delivery. This is the first thing in my list. Post-Partum I got so caught up in to looking after my baby daughter. I needed a change from my daily routine. The first thing that striked to my mind is reading books without which I cannot live. This time only a thriller would take my mind off anything. I went online and searched for a thriller book which has the adrenaline rush and which has a lot many twists and also that captivates my attention. I needed a boom that takes me to a different world all together - A world full of action and guns and fighting. As currently I am in no mood to touch romance books of any author, John Grisham's books are promising enough for me with all the above requirements. I read some of his works earlier and I got to say he is a promising author in delivering a nice captivating novel. His writing style will make you read and read and never to stop reading at all. You would want to know what happens next. That's his way of writing. 

Immediately I went online shopping, navigated to the Best Selling books of John Grisham for the week in Literature and Fiction category. And there it is - "The Whistler" being the first item displayed and I ordered it right away without second thoughts, without even reading the book reviews, without even reading the back cover. I got lucky and this book met all my expectations. I got so thrilled at each and every page of the book. It is quite good to learn somethings new about law. the adrenaline rush the book gives on FBI when they entered the scene of investigation in the story, makes everyone want to join the federal force immediately and solve cases such as organised crime. I like the idea of investigating and solving cases. This really caught my attention. It's been more than a divergence reading this book from my baby care routine.

- SwEthA ChAlAmAseTTy