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Alphabet Soup for Lovers
Lena Abraham knows that love can end in only one way � disappointment. Her marriage to KK is perfect precisely because she is not in love with him, and their life on a tea plantation in the picturesque Anamalai Hills is idyllic. Then, one rainy morning, a man arrives to take up temporary residence in the homestay they run. Shoola Pani is south Indian cinema�s heartthrob, an actor in flight from his own superstardom, and the last thing he is looking for is emotional entanglement. But when Lena and he meet, something flares between them that neither could have anticipated. She becomes his Lee and he her Ship, and Arcadia the place they inhabit. Told partly from the point of view of Komathi, the cook, whose own relationship with Lena is fraught with buried truths from the past, this searing tale of unexpected passion and adultery reaffirms the magical power of love in all our lives.
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The Village of Pointless Conversation
It doesn't matter where you go, I tell them. 'Travelling just means getting out of where you were.' Which is my halfassed way of saying, if they have stumbled through my doorway, they are lost as hell. Off the guidebook grid. Bumfuck nowhere, in other words. Pocolim is a little village somewhere or nowhere in Goa. It is home to Ferdie, the postman, who sets out to find his longlost love, Millie. Along for the ride in a recently repaired vintage car are the most unlikely companions: his friend Angie, the sweet, virginal widow, her motherinlaw, the extraordinarily corpulent and bossy Rosalina Eucharistica, renowned painter Don Pedro who finds lost inspiration in the vastness of Rosalina's body, and Savio, friend of Angie's late husband and once contender for her love. On the road, resentments, ambitions, bitterness and desires come to a boil, as disturbing secrets tumble out, redemption strikes where they least expect it. The Village of Pointless Conversation is a sensuous, funny, fullbodied affair, shot through with quiet gloom that peels off the thin skin of pretence under which lie all our human absurdities.
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Flame Tree Road
1870s India. In a tiny village where society is ruled by a caste system and women are defined solely by marriage,young Biren Roy dreams of forging a new destiny. When his mother suffers the fate of widowhood�shunned by her loved ones and forced to live in solitary penance - Biren devotes his life to effecting change. Biren's passionate spirit blossoms as wildly as the blazing flame trees of his homeland. With a law degree, he goes to work for the government to pioneer academic equality for girls. But in a place governed by age-old conventions, progress comes at a price, and soon Biren becomes a stranger among his own countrymen. Just when his vision for the future begins to look hopeless, he meets Maya, the independent minded daughter of a local educator, and his soul is reignited. It is in her love that Biren finally finds his home, and in her heart that he finds the hope for a new world.
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Pretty Baby
A chance encounter, She sees the teenage girl on the train platform, standing in the pouring rain, clutching an infant in her arms. She boards a train and is whisked away. But she can't get the girl out of her head. An act of kindness Heidi has always been charitable but her family are horrified when she returns home with a young woman named Willow and her baby in tow. Dishevelled and homeless, this girl could be a criminal or worse. But despite the family's objections, Heidi offers them refuge. A tangled web of lies As Willow begins to get back on her feet, disturbing clues into her past starts to emerge. Now Heidi must question if her motives for helping the stranger are unselfish or rooted in her own failures.
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Goddess of Fire
The day after her husband died, all that Moorti's brother-in-law and his son had on their minds was pushing her into her husband's funeral pyre. Years later, she would remember how she had told Bipin, her brother-in-law, to take her husband's land but to let her go. Seventeenyear old Moorti's only fault was she hadn't paid any dowry. Will Moorti be able to escape from the clutches of her brother-in-law or will she become the goddess of fire?
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Woodsmoke and Leafcups
Bastar remained outside the country I knew and with which I was familiar: the scent of sal hinting at something more refreshing than the goals to which India aspired. Madhu Ramnath spent thirty years with the Durwa peoples in Bastar. What began as impulsive travel to a swathe of land that had no roads crisscrossing it soon turned into a homecoming: each stint in the forest compelled him to return and, finally, to stay. Over the years he became a student of Durwa life, living in the forest, tending cattle, working a hillslope in the village. He immersed himself in the Durwa world while indulging his passion for devising a botanical classification that would be accessible to a layperson Woodsmoke and Leafcups is a firsthand account of life in Bastar: the routines of communal life and the interactions of the Durwas with the State machinery. He writes of a culture where energy and laughter are currency, although of no value to anyone else. He draws a portrait of friends and teachers, threats and ways of eliding them, and the lure of politics for those long indifferent to it. At a time when 'there are few places in which to lose oneself', Ramnath writes of a people and a place that exist outside, sometimes counter to, known narratives.
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Mind Over Matter
Hollywood agent Aurora Fields kept her personal life strictly separate from her professional one, until she met TV producer David Brady. He might be working with her biggest client on a documentary,but that didn't mean Aurora trusted him. She'd be on hand to protect her celebrity star from exploitation and if that meant spending more time with David then so be it! David had always considered himself a good judge of character, so why did each moment he spent with Aurora leave her as enigmatic and enticing as before? Fall under the spell of New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts!
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The Marble Collector
A forgotten childhood. A discovered life. What if you only had one day to find out who you really were? When Sabrina Boggs stumbles upon a mysterious collection of her father's possessions, she discovers a truth where she never knew there was a lie. The familiar man she grew up with is suddenly a stranger to her. An unexpected break in her monotonous daily routine leaves her just one day to unlock the secrets of the man she thought she knew. A day that unearths memories, stories and people she never knew existed. A day that changes her and those around her forever.The Marble Collector is a thoughtprovoking novel about how the most ordinary decisions we make can have the most extraordinary consequences for how we live our lives. And how sometimes it�s only by shining on a light on someone else, that you can truly understand yourself.
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The One That Got Away
What are school friends for? Shared lunches, secrets, movies and studies. And if there is a best friend, you want to share everything with him. But do things really work out the way you want them to? Is life really fair? Shyamita and Jai know they have to go different ways once school is over. Shyamita is going to pursue dance and Jai is off to Cardiff for further studies. What happens when they meet after several years? Sparks fly, shocking them both. Before they can figure out what is happening, love strikes.
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Reckless.
New York Times Bestselling Author Tracy Whitney Sidney Sheldon�s most popular and enduring heroine is back again in the sensational and gripping followup to Chasing Tomorrow. Once upon a time, Tracy Whitney was one of the best thieves in the business. Then she settled down, had a baby, and planned to spend the rest of her days quietly, living anonymously, devoted to her son. But tragic news has forced Tracy to face her greatest nightmare. Now, with nothing left to protect, she returns to the hunt and she's more dangerous than ever. Tracy is not the only woman with a dark and dangerous past. The world faces a new terror threat from a group of global hackers intent on the collapse of capitalism and private wealth and the creation of a new world order. When this group turn to violence, with deadly effect, the mysterious woman pulling their strings becomes the CIA's public enemy number one. Only one clever and ruthless woman is capable of tracking down the terrorist: Tracy. But as Tracy discovers, the truth proves as elusive as her target. Hampered by corruption and enemies masked as allies, Tracy will be pushed to the brink, where she must face her darkest demons. But just how reckless will a person become when she have nothing left to lose?
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Jelly Belly
In the midst of her busy schedule, multiple commitments and looking after others, every woman should read this book for sure. Cutting through all the myths, fads, and noise, Dr Aparna Santhanam shows how to successfully understand, prioritise and look after one's body and mind, and truly live a healthy and happy life. - Anjali & Sachin Tendulkar The belly bulge is not uncommon among women over 30, and it is symptomatic of a much bigger phenomenon: women's neglect and ignorance of their own health and nutrition as they juggle multiple commitments at work and home. Wellness expert and bestselling author Dr Aparna Santhanam distills two decades of experience and wisdom in this groundbreaking book. She provides practical solutions that women can implement to fight the belly and lead healthier, happier lives. So how do you control the effects of fluctuating hormones, like loss of energy, nagging headaches, hot flushes and depression? How do you address heart and bone health once you hit 30? What are the essential screening tests and when should you do them? How do you fight greying hair and sagging skin, or control urinary incontinence? Dr Santhanam's onestop guide reveals everything you need to know to be beautiful, healthy, secure and confident, and to make YOU your priority.
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Kanan Devi
This is the incredible story of Kanan Devi, one of the top stars and singers of the 1930s and 40s. Kanan Devi was not only one of the few stars to have been successful both in silent films and the talkies, she was also one of the few artists to be Internationally recognized in Hollywood magazines as a gifted singer and actor, hobnobbing with the likes of Vivien Leigh. She was a woman of many dimensions: a fashionista, a producer who made many successful films in the fifties and sixties, a philanthropist for women in theatre and film-centred welfare projects, and a feminist before the word gained currency. Mekhala Sengupta�s well-researched account not only brings to life a fearless pioneer who fought stereotypes to live life on her own terms, but is also a loving ode to a lost era of Indian cinema.
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Almost a century before A Game of thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros. A Knight of the seven od this Kindoms compiles the first three official prequel novellas to George R.R. Martin's ongoing masterwork, A Song of Ice and Fire. Before Tyrion Lannister and Podrick Payne there was Dunk and Egg. A young, naive but courageous hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall towers above his rivals in stature if not experience. Tagging along with him is his diminutive squire, a boy called Egg, whose true identity must be hidden from all he and Dunk encounter: for in reality he is Aegon Targaryen, and one day he will be king. Improbable heroes though they be, great destinies lay ahead for Dunk and Egg; as do powerful foes, royal intrigue, and outrageous exploits. A Knight of thr Seven Kingdoms is set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory. Featuring more than 160 illustrations by Gary Gianni, one of the finest fantasy artists of our time, this beautiful volume will transport readers to the world of the Seven Kingdoms in an age of bygone chivalry.
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Applied Spirituality a Spiritual Vision for the Di
Swami Agnivesh is a swami with a difference, a holy man who is as much an untiring social worker as he is a political activist. In Applied Spirituality, he discusses his views on religion and spirituality from the vantage point of his religious learning, leavened by his decades-long work with the underprivileged sections of society. He reasons how religion and spirituality can be applied in our day-to-day lives so as to make them resonate in a more practical manner. Addressing issues as diverse as increasing religious intolerance, Naxalism and social injustice, human rights, world trade and women's empowerment, Swami Agnivesh calls for a transformation of society through a multi-pronged approach that involves extensive interfaith dialogue.
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India The Crucial Years
During his long career in public service, T.V. Rajeswar witnessed several historic events at close quarters. He was part of the team that investigated the assassination of Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Dorji in 1964. He was deputed to Bangladesh in 1972 to advise the country's first President, Mujibur Rehman, on his security. And he was part of the Intelligence Bureau in the critical years of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. In his memoir, Rajeswar tells the stories behind the headlines and makes startling disclosures as it paints a compelling portrait of India over the last half-century.
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Red Maize
In the village of Morha Madana, overlooking the Chenab, the joys of harvesting ripe maize get sullied when, one summer,gun-toting militants of the tanzeem start swarming the hills. As the militants fight in the name of azadi, the villagers lives are shaken and torn apart. Charmed by the call of jihad, Shakeel, the second of the three sons of widow Kausar Jaan, becomes the first to turn a mujahid. Soon, the dreaded area commander, Major Rathore of the Indian Army, decides that Shakeel's decimation is his only way of regaining the respect of his fellow officers and his ticket back to a peace station. Thus begins the tale of woe of his mother and brothers. Eventually Kausar Jaan becomes the symbol of Kashmir caught in the crossfire between separatists and the army. Red Maize is the poignant tale of a mother's dilemma as she mutely witnesses the maize crops in her backyard get stained with the blood of her sons. It is also the chronicle of a paradise lost but never regained.
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Feel the Fear Ruby Redfort
The fourth book in the scarily awesome Ruby Redfort series, by multi million copy bestselling author Lauren Child. This time Ruby must pit her wits against a seemingly invisible foe. How do you set your sights on catching a light-fingered villain if you cant even see him?
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Scotsman of my Dreams
Once the ton�s most notorious rake, Dalton MacIain has returned from his expedition to America during the Civil War-wounded and a changed man. Instead of attending soirees, he now spends his time as a recluse. But Dalton�s peace is disturbed when Minerva Todd barges into his London townhouse, insisting he help search for her missing brother Neville. Though Dalton would love to spend more time with the bewitching beauty, he has no interest in finding Neville - for he blames him for his injury. Minerva has never met a more infuriating man than the Earl of Rathsmere yet she is intrigued by the torrid rumors she has heard about him. and the fierce attraction pulling her toward him. Dalton does not count on Minerva�s persistence-or the desire she awakens in him, compelling him to discover her brother�s fate. But when danger surrounds them, Dalton fears he will lose the tantalizing, thoroughly unpredictable woman he has come to love.
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When a Scot Ties The Knot
On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done - she invented a sweetheart. A Scottish sweetheart.One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter ...and by pretending to be devastated when he was (Not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely. Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep - handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He�s wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters... and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep.
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An Offer from a Gentleman
Will she accept the offer before the clock strikes midnight? Sophie Beckett never dreamed she�d be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton�s famed masquerade ball. Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, waltzing in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight. Who was that extraordinary woman? Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other-except, perhaps, this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid�s garb. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. If he offers her his heart, will he sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?