Tuesday 7 December 2021

Am I a writer? Do I need to write? What does writing really do for a person? - #WritingCommunity @ItsAWoWLifeMB @heenasodhikhera

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I had more questions than answers when I went on a journey of discovering the author within me, a workshop conducted by bestselling author, filmscript writer, and seeker Megha Bajaj, in collaboration with Queens Brigade. Honestly, I didn't know what was in store for me.

Little did I expect that I would, along with others, explore unique forms of writing - stories, blogs, poetry and whatnot!

Reading through others stories, and forming some of my own was an incredible process of self-discovery.

I went through a myriad of emotions through the workshop - something I definitely wasnt expecting - but the power of words, and a great mentor is such, that it takes you to the core of your being and helps you understand what is going on within.

So many of the people doing the workshop published their work - and I felt incredibly proud of a nine year old whose fiction got published in Outlook, India's best. I was amazed to realize that we limit words to essays at school, or as a tool to make our to-do lists - when words actually can introduce us to ourselves, and to the world.

It's early days for me - and yet, as someone who has always dabbled in words - as a reader, as a blogger and now getting to know myself as a storyteller, I would want to urge each of you in the direction of doing a personalised, customised workshop - like the one I attended, as it reveals a better, more clear, more expressive - and even confident version of yourself.

Queens Brigade is conducting its second batch with Megha Bajaj and seeing how I, and eleven others felt through the journey, I recommend it to you too.

Words are powerful. Ask me, I dwell in them all day long.

Allow them to change your life - and they will.

Allow them to go to your within - and lead to a catharsis, and they will.

Allow them to be your best tool to take you to the world - and they will.

Let's experience the magic called Words, yet again.


Register HERE today.


Wednesday 1 December 2021

#BookBlitz :: Blood Trail (The Undercover Series #3) by Ruchi Singh #Romance #Suspense @ruchiwriter

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Trisha is mortified as a stranger flirts with her at a society party. The very fact that he singles her out, and she gives in to her pent-up desires and attraction towards the handsome stranger, lands her in a soup so deadly that it brings danger and death to her doorstep.

Coming out of a brutal undercover assignment, busting the spine of a major illegal drug cartel, Armaan is looking for some peace and quiet. Instead his path coincides with Trisha Mehra. Sparks fly. As do bullets too.

By sheer coincidence, when they meet again, they have an accident. Again!

And IB agent Major Armaan Joshi does not believe in coincidences.

Another standalone novel under Undercover series, yet connected in spirit, from the author of bestsellers 'The Bodyguard' and 'Guardian Angel'...

Book  Links:
Goodreads * Amazon.in * Amazon.com

Read an Excerpt from Blood Trail


The parking area was huge, and bays were segregated by the colors of the pillars in between. He remembered noticing the blue pillars when they had parked and walked towards the blue area, clicking on the car key. There she was! His shiny new black beauty winked at him as he pressed the key again. A smile appeared involuntarily on his face.

He took a step towards the car and sensed a movement between his car and the one parked adjacent to it. A girl in black crouched on the floor. "Hey, what are you doing?" By force of habit, his hands went to his absent shoulder holster, panic raised his heckles. The next second he remembered that he had strapped the gun to his ankle.

The woman gasped and stood up quickly. There was a collective intake of breath as their eyes met. She stood there wringing the strap of her purse, her eyes darted here and there in panic. He stared at her in confusion, anger, and relief.

“Er… I… I have dropped my keys somewhere here.” 

The woman from the party, the one who left him sleeping without a by your leave, stood in front of him vaguely gesturing toward the floor.

“Umm… I’m sorry,” she mumbled. Her fair face was flaming.

“What are you sorry for?” His hands fisted by his side.

“Er…” She cleared her throat. “I’ve to find my car keys.”

He looked at her car and then at his own. His pleasure went down a few notches. Her’s was way out of his league.

“If you would be kind enough to move your car, I’ll be able to go home." Arms around her middle, she looked at everything but him.

“You are not going anywhere till we have a civilized discussion about that night. But first of all, tell me your na—” He took a step towards the driver’s side and heard a familiar faint sound—the swo…osh of air being displaced. He dived between the two cars, taking her with him.


Author of the bestselling romantic thrillers, Ruchi Singh is an IT professional and novelist writing under Romance and Suspense genre. She is a bilingual author and writes in both Hindi and English.

Winner of the Times Of India WriteIndia Season 1, she began her writing career writing short stories and articles, which have been published on various forums. She has been a contributing author to a number of anthologies and has published many short stories under various genres. She has also won the Indireads Story Competition, in ‘crime’ genre.

A voracious reader, she loves everything—from classics to memoirs to editorials to chick-lit, but her favourite genre is 'romantic thriller'.

Ruchi on the Web:

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Saturday 27 November 2021

#AspiringAuthors Level-Up Today With This #WritingWorkshop - #WritingCommunity @ItsaWoWlifeMB @heenasodhikhera

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WoW is indeed grateful to Queens Brigade, for inviting bestselling author Megha Bajaj to conduct online writing workshops for aspiring authors.

These workshops, which require just two hours a week (two hours of your choice) have been gifting people with personal and professional Breakthroughs.

It's been helping people write better messages, mails, start blogs, get published, Express their innermost thoughts and insights and empowering them to inspire the world around them.

Youngsters above age 9, homemakers, professionals, entrepreneurs, CEOs have all come together to experience WoW together and its been a joyride... of expressions, imagination, creativity.

Queensbrigade and WoW invites you to join a never before learning experience. 

Here's a testimonial from batch 1 participant:



We have very limited seats, so register HERE today.





Saturday 20 November 2021

#CoverReveal :: His Accidental Princess (The Royal Guard #1) by Kyra Seth #RomanticSuspense #BodyguardRomance @kyrasethauthor

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A reluctant princess and a cranky bodyguard…


All that Sona Singh has ever wanted was a family of her own.
Abandoned as a baby, raised in an orphanage, she wants roots. All she gets is a grumpy cat.

All that Maj. Samar Deshmukh has ever wanted was redemption.
A chance to break free of the memories that still hold him prisoner. What he gets is having to babysit an accidental princess and her man-eating cat.

Sona believes that her life can’t get worse than it already is. And then, she discovers that she is the long-lost princess of Nagaur. Which would be a good thing, if not for the fact that someone is trying to kill her.

In this incomprehensible world of snooty royals and their stuffy protocol, Samar is Sona’s only link to reality. And safety.

But when she falls head over heels in lust with the surly ex-commando, she realizes that a threat to her life might be the least of her problems.

Can Sona ever find happiness with a man who refuses to love her for fear of losing her?

His Accidental Princess is an exciting, passionate and funny royal romantic suspense about love and redemption.




About the Author:


Kyra Seth is a Mumbai-based author who loves romance, comedy and action equally. 

She writes exciting stories that are funny and steamy in equal parts.




Kyra on the Web:











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Thursday 4 November 2021

#ReleaseDayBlitz :: Dawn's Desire (Shades of Night # 3) by Shilpa Suraj - @shilpaauthor #ContemporaryRomance #SecondChanceRomance

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One night of passion, a stolen moment of joy and six years of pain...



Rishi Khatri cannot forget the beautiful woman who swept into his life for one incredible night and then disappeared...with the contents of his wallet and large chunks of his heart.
Until the day, he meets Sehar again and he realises that he cannot forgive her. For, Rishi has made a cardinal mistake. He's fallen in love with his one night stand.
Sehar Mirza's one night of rebellion destroyed any chance of a normal future. But her heart cannot regret her choice. For in that one night, she laughed, she loved and she lost. She lived an entire lifetime.
When their paths cross again, Sehar and Rishi find their feelings for each other haven't dimmed. All they want in life is another chance, a second chance.

But Sehar has a secret. One that will destroy their tentative happiness.

Can they learn to look beyond their past mistakes and hope for a shared future? Can Rishi forgive a betrayal so large that it leaves his already battered heart in pieces at Sehar's feet?

Can love win? Or will loss claim their destiny for its own again?

Book Links:


Read an Excerpt from Dawn's Desire


“Partay!” Di yelled into my ear as I left my sad little family reunion and started towards home. My cab driver seemed to think he was racing in the Formula One so we would probably reach really soon. 

“No,” I told her. “Not tonight.” 

“Yes tonight. Come on, Termi. Don’t be a bore,” she wheedled. “We can’t party without you.” 

“Yes, you can. I’m going home to my book.” 

Someone hissed at her in the background and then there was a loud clatter that sounded like the phone falling. I was about to hang up when Manav came on the line. 

“Dude, you have to come,” he hissed. “The girls are really drunk and Dev and I need help.” 

I groaned and scrubbed my face with both my hands. I knew what my answer would be even before I sighed and said, “It should take me half an hour to reach.” 

I gave the driver the new destination and sat back, my mind still on my father and his requirements. Join the family firm, marry the perfect girl, produce two perfect children, win a lot of cases, get some high profile criminals acquitted, die with dignity. 

I could feel the noose of his expectations tightening around my neck even after a brief dinner with him. What had my mother lived with every day of her marital life? 

The cab pulled up outside the nightclub Manav had mentioned. I paid up and got out taking another deep breath. From the frying pan into the fire. 

I shook hands with the bouncer who recognized me and made my way into the crowded venue. It took less than a second to find them. 

Avni appeared to be pole dancing with Dev in the middle of the dance floor and by that I meant, Dev was the pole. A very embarrassed pole.

Diana and Manav were doing some version of Patrick Swayze’s Dirty Dancing moves except with a lot more enthusiasm and a lot less finesse. Manav seemed to be spending more time stopping her from falling and less time dancing. 

And Sehar…Sehar was on the bar. ON the bar. Her hands in her hair, her eyes closed, she was swaying to a beat only she heard in a burgundy jumpsuit that clung to the mouthwateringly svelte shape of her body. Even from this distance, I could see the crowd of hungry men eyeing her and slowly closing in. 

I made it to the bar in record time. For once, I was grateful for my size. By the time I glared at the men with bloodlust in my eyes, they accepted defeat and shuffled away. 

Her eyes were still closed and she still hadn’t noticed I’d arrived. 

“Sehar, get down.” I wrapped a hand around her ankle and gave it a gentle tug.

Every muscle in her body stilled. She stopped the gentle swaying she was doing but stayed exactly where she was. Hands in her hair, eyes shut, a slightly heightened flush to her cheeks. She made my traitorous heart ache. Did the bloody idiot want to be trampled to dust for the second time?

“Get down,” I said again, my voice dropping to a whisper but she heard me. 

She opened her eyes and looked at me and it was six years ago, all over again. She was still the most beautiful woman in the place. She still made my blood hum and my heart thump. She had the power to bring me to my knees. 

And she knew it. 

She dropped to her knees on the bar counter and looked at me. I knew she was drunk and yet, in that moment, she looked at me with perfect clarity. 

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. 

And before I could even process the apology, she was kissing me. The world dropped away as her lips met mine for the first time in forever. 

It was like the years between had never happened. Her tongue slipped into my mouth as she cradled my head and brought me closer. She licked and nibbled and nuzzled. And God help me, I let her. 

Even as the voice inside my head screamed at me to be better, to be smarter, to be wiser. I let her. 

Because, Sehar was my weakness. The chink in my armour. The mistake I could never regret. The ‘what if’ I couldn’t forget. The girl who’d stolen my heart and never given it back.



About the Author:

Shilpa Suraj wears many hats - corporate drone, homemaker, mother to a fabulous toddler and author.

An avid reader with an overactive imagination, Shilpa has weaved stories in her head since she was a child. Her previous stints at Google, in an ad agency and as an entrepreneur provide colour to her present day stories, both fiction and non-fiction.




Contact the Author:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Newsletter




Sunday 31 October 2021

#ReleaseDayBlitz :: Ruin (Bastard Billionaires #2) by Aarti V. Raman - #Interracial #Romance @rt_writes

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She’s royal. She’s his best friend’s little sister. She hates him!

Princess Lena Heinrickson wants to shed her Party Girl image. Desperately.
So, she runs away from her royal obligations and finds solace in anonymity.
She doesn’t count on the world’s best tracker hunting her down at the request of her Royal Brothers...Shane McRae, the man who destroyed her heart, after a brief fling in Paris.
Now, with her very life on the line, Lena has to pretend she’s not crumbling inside.
All while trying to not fall for the most forbidden and broken man on the planet – her bodyguard.
Former soldier and current billionaire for hire, Shane has too many ghosts haunting his dreams.
The one ghost he can’t forget is Princess Lena – the most famous woman on the planet.
Now all grown up, more guarded than ever, and still as enchanting as she’d been when they first met.
Tasked with protecting her from a terrible danger, Shane knows the smart thing to do would be to keep it strictly professional.
Especially, since his own demons rear their heads to torment him.
But, his desires threaten to overtake his common sense. The path to his certain Ruin lies in Lena’s arms. Most of all, he wants it almost as much as he’s afraid of it…


Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon.in * Amazon.com

Read an Excerpt from Ruin (Billionaire Bastards #2)


“I stay up nights thinking of ways to tease you.” He was deadpan in delivery but sweetly, sexily earnest.
“You know what?” She went on her toes because she couldn’t stand one more second of not kissing him.

“So do I,” she whispered against his lips.

Their kiss was deep, slow, sugary as honey twined in molasses, their hearts beat as one even as he stooped low to accommodate the differences in their height. His tongue sucked on hers, as if he was tasting a rare sweet delicacy, made just for him and her inside were slick with wet and wanting.

Already anticipating how this night might end…

His eyes opened, lush green and filled with enough fire to melt her in the middle of the small, private park they’d discovered on this midnight picnic. “I think I might love you.”

Lena’s heart stuttered. Then beat faster, surer than it ever had.

She wanted to say, me too. Me first. From the second I saw you. But I’m scared because I lose everyone I love, one way or another and losing you will hurt till the end of time.

She let her fingers wander down to his zipper, found rock-hard evidence of his desire.

She smiled and caressed it while she whispered in his hot ear what exactly she wanted to do to him.

“I think I’ll go down on my knees. The grass is soft, isn’t it? And we’re alone tonight. No useless guards. And you opened that bottle of Krug I hate so I might as well put it to some good fucking use…”

She sucked on his lobe, pulled at the tender bottom with her teeth. Felt his erection leap into her palm. “Would you like to know how champagne and you taste on my tongue?”


About the Author:

Hi, I’m Aarti V Raman aka Writer Gal. I have been a former journalist, editor, and even a sometime-teacher before I plunged into my dream job. That of being a full-time writer.
In fact, my three favorite words are ‘happily ever after.’
This comes in handy as I primarily write bestselling contemporary romantic women’s fiction, which is all about living happily, after going through some hard times.
My more notable works include the Geeks of Caltech and Royals of Stellangård series, Something Old, Something New, More Than You Want, and The Perfect Fake among others. My chicklit family drama, The Worst Daughter Ever, has been picked up for screen adaptation.
I always love to hang with you, my dear reader friend. I’ve created Writer Gal’s Reader Pals on Facebook for this reason and I hope to see you there.
If not, I’m there on all social media but I’m most active on Instagram

Aarti on the Web:
Newsletter * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter 



Monday 18 October 2021

#BookBlitz :: Dare to Be a Duchess by Sapna Bhog - @sapnawrites #HistoricalRomance #99cents

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He’s a powerful duke. She’s his uncle’s ward. They have forever been at war, until one night, one masquerade, and one kiss…


Lara Ramsay is no stranger to scandal. As the orphaned daughter of a British colonel and his beloved Indian wife, whispers follow her everywhere. Not even the protection of the formidable Duke of Wolverton, a man she can’t stand, keeps the gossips at bay.
The audacious Lara has driven Tristan Wentworth, The Duke of Wolverton, to distraction since the day his uncle took her in—and he’s quite certain doing so is her favorite pastime. After catching her and his younger sister at a salacious masquerade, he’s had enough scandal and issues a marriage ultimatum: find a husband within six months or one will be chosen for her.
Unfortunately, no one in the ton appeals to her. Except, perhaps, the duke himself. The battle of wills has only just begun, and when Lara kisses him, their fate is sealed.
Sometimes even the most proper duke needs to break the rules to win the heart of the woman he loves...



Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon.in * Amazon.com


Quotes from Dare to be a Duchess:

“Here, right at this moment, I’m giving you an ultimatum: Find someone from the ton to marry in the next six months or I will choose someone for you.” – Duke of Wolverton

“Well then the plan is simple, ‘Divide and Rule.’” – Lara Ramsay

“You’ll be surprised that a gentleman with the best intentions can behave like a rake when faced with temptation.” – Duke of Wolverton

“I think, Wolf, that you go on and on about my undesirability and my unattractiveness as a way to convince yourself more than me. The fact is that you kissed me because I am desirable and I am very attractive indeed.” – Lara Ramsay.

“You know very well that I’m accepted in the ton, albeit grudgingly, thanks only to you. No man wants to marry me, and I don’t want to marry any of those men.” – Lara Ramsay.


Read an Excerpt from Dare to be a Duchess:

Wolf crossed his arms and glared at Lara. Despite being at fault, she was as unrepentant as ever. Her absolute nonchalance drove him mad, always. 

“It is my concern. Getting into trouble is second nature to you, so I’d be lying if I said that it gave me any pleasure to be the one to help you out.” Wolf scowled at her. “Paxton is not a fool. He only has to think closely as to whose identity I would desperately want to protect and then remember your dark hair and he will come up with your name. You truly have no sense at all.”

“Well then you shouldn’t have bothered coming to my aid,” Lara retorted. “I could have handled the situation perfectly well by myself.” 

Wolf put his hands on his hips. “And how may I ask would you have done that?”

“I’ve heard that a well planted knee on a delicate part of a man’s anatomy would normally do the trick.”

His eyebrows shot up. “You’re crazy to think that you could have deterred Paxton that easily.”

Lara merely stared at him, her head held high, further fueling his temper. 

“What, nothing to say?” he snapped. “Which brings me back to my first question. What in the world are you doing here in this depraved place?” 

Lara continued to watch him with those deep blue eyes, her lips set in a mutinous line. Her lack of response irked him even more. 

“Answer me,” Wolf demanded, his tone sharp.

She met his gaze head on. “We had no inkling this place would be so bad. And nothing untoward has occurred, so stop shouting at me.”

 “Unbelievable,” he growled. “Do you know how bad this place can be for two innocent girls like yourselves? Behind their masks and costumes, the men here have only one thing on their minds when they look at you, and you, as usual, don’t care that you could be completely ruined if discovered, let alone taken advantage of, in this den of vice. You are wild and irresponsible and you give no thought to your actions or the consequences thereof. And you 

brought Anne here? Just because you don’t care about your reputation doesn’t mean you can play fast and loose with hers.”

Lara’s eyes blazed with fury. “Anne is not a child. She is a grown woman who has a mind of her own.” 

“And that is justification for you to come here?” Wolf countered.

“I, too, have a mind of my own,” she shot back. “And I do not appreciate you telling me what I can and cannot do.”

His nostrils flared. He was the Duke of Wolverton, one of the most powerful men in England. No one defied him. And yet this one woman stood against him at every turn. Why couldn’t she understand the potential danger for her or Anne here?

About the Author:
Sapna Bhog is an author from India who writes contemporary and historical romance novels. As a self-proclaimed die-hard romantic, her books are filled with swoon-worthy heroes and feisty heroines who clash all the time, but do get their happy ever after. Sapna has always surrounded herself with books and when she is not writing she is reading. Originally from Dubai, she now lives in Western India with her husband, kids and a Siberian Husky. Sapna gave up a successful IT career and took a foray into writing and has never looked back since. Her favourite pastimes are reading, writing, traveling and shopping—not necessarily in that order. She loves to hear from readers.

Sapna on the Web:
Twitter * Facebook * Instagram



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Sunday 5 September 2021

Discover the Author Within YOU - #WritingCommunity #WritingWorkshop #AspiringAuthors @heenasodhikhera @ItsaWoWlifeMB

12:00 am 0 Comments

 


"I didnt know I could write poetry - and today I am the author of an anthology of a poetry book and winner of an award!" Bina Pillai.

 

Like Bina, so many of us have the closet desire to write, to express, to publish.

To use the power of our words - to heal our lives,

and amplify our voice.

And yet, sometimes we just dont know where to begin.

Or how to go about things... 

Finally, it’s here. A wonderful, customized, group class (where you also get individual email consultation) and get a chance to learn from one of the most loved authors in India - Megha Bajaj, author of several acclaimed and inspiring books including The Breakthrough, published by Rupa. 

 


Not only will this workshop come to you at a never before, never again investment - but you will also get a chance to relax, learn and gain tremendous insights from an incredible mentor and a fun, like-minded group. 

If using words as a medium of expression, self-discovery and profession has been on your agenda here is your chance to give power to your dreams. 

Since we have  limited seats - request you to sign up by clicking HERE!







Friday 3 September 2021

#ReleaseDayBlitz :: Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass! (Donovan Trait #2) by Seelie Kay - @SeelieKay #RomanticSuspense #ParanormalRomance #Mystery

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Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass!
(Donovan Trait #2)
by Seelie Kay

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Mystery
Publisher: eXtasy Books
ISBN: 978-1-4874-3357-4
Page: 145
Word Count:44705
Publication Date: 2021-09-03





Book Blurb:

It was the Great Lie, and it could destroy the Vampire Nation.


In First, We Kill All the Lawyers, vampire lawyer Donovan Trait survived repeated attacks by a serial killer. Now, after violating a marital agreement with the Vampire Coalition, and several ancient Vampire Laws, Donovan, and his newly-turned vampire bride are on the run. You see, in exchange for permitting a pure-blood vampire to marry a turned human, the Traits agreed to allow vampire scientists to monitor the conception and birth of their children. When Judge Shirley Magnusen Trait turns up accidentally pregnant on her wedding day, the fury of the Coalition is unleashed. The tribunal recommends unacceptable punitive action and the Traits are forced to flee to a mysterious island of vampire nuns. The Traits are, by profession, seekers of the truth. But this time, the truth may not set them free. In fact, it could start a revolution. Will the Traits escape the clutches of the Coalition and keep their babies safe? Or will their family be…eliminated?

Book Links:
Goodreads * eXtasy Books


A Quick Interview with Seelie Kay


Why do you write romance?

Because I am fascinated by the games people play to find and secure a lasting relationship, which is not always love. There’s the chase, the courtship, the falling, the surrender. That’s what I try to capture in my stories.

Do you prefer a certain type of romantic hero?

I adore smart, dashing gentlemen who aren’t afraid to live on the edge. They can be a bad boy, a billionaire, a prince, or a secret agent. That hint of danger just hooks me! However, I they have to be paired with strong, independent women who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want, even love.

Why did you write “Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass?”

Donovan Trait is a vampire lawyer. In the human world, a very respected lawyer. I wanted to give him the opportunity to shine in the vampire world. So I created a scenario where his turned vampire bride Shirley is unfairly punished for an unintentionally violating their marital agreement, as well as other outdated, outrageous, and outright discriminatory laws—she unintentionally  To survive and protect their unborn child, they must not only fight back, but also rebel. In this instance, human history provides them with the path. That gave me the opportunity to draw parallels between the fight for human rights and the rights of vampires who aren’t purebloods. It also allowed me to poke at the continued need of both societies to embrace social change. Perhaps surprisingly, the vampires lag far behind the humans in terms of equality and individual freedoms. However, in the end, the message is clear: Whether human or vampire, an individual is entitled to certain rights and liberties. And no human or vampire has a right to deny them.

About Seelie Kay:

Award-winning author Seelie Kay writes about lawyers in love, sometimes with a dash of kink.

Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s wicked pen has resulted in nineteen works of fiction, including the new paranormal romance series Donovan Trait, as well the erotic romance Kinky Briefs series and The Feisty Lawyers romantic suspense series. She also authored The Last Christmas, The Garage Dweller, A Touchdown to Remember, The President’s Wife, The President’s Daughter, Seizing Hope, The White House Wedding, and participated in the romance anthology Pieces of Us.

When not spinning romantic tales, Seelie ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. Currently, she resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine. 

Seelie is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!

Seelie on the Web:
Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Author's Amazon Page








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Sunday 15 August 2021

#ReleaseDayBlitz :: My Ruin (Bond of Brothers #1) by Sapna Bhog - #RomanticSuspense #Contemporary @sapnawrites

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The bonds of family are unbreakable.

From bestselling Author Sapna Bhog comes a new romance series of friendship, loyalty and betrayal.
He never expected to run into her…
SHAURYA RAJPOOT is a man of many secrets. A sudden meeting with Myra Gupta changes the course of his life. Bound by a vow to his family, Shaurya keeps her at a distance…until she shatters all the barriers between them. Staying away from her soon becomes impossible, resisting her…unimaginable. 
She wasn’t prepared for him…
After losing the only man she ever loved, MYRA GUPTA has gone through life barely living and merely surviving. But all that changes when she meets Shaurya Rajpoot. Fascinated and intrigued by him, Myra is drawn by his loyalty, silent strength and quiet reserve. She yearns to get to know him better. However his past, his family and their bitter history keeps getting in the way of them being together. 
But when the past collides with the present and secrets are revealed, will love be enough? Or will one lie—the biggest deception of all—destroy Shaurya and Myra forever?

Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon.in * Amazon.com


Read an Excerpt from My Ruin


Foolish.
It was nothing but foolishness to have been watching her for the last ten minutes. But the moment he’d spotted her on his iPad screen, he hadn’t been able to stop himself. He’d wanted to see her again.
God! She was even more beautiful than he remembered. Dark hair flowing down her back, the skin of one bare shoulder glistening like gold under the muted lights and those never-ending legs. His heart dipped. She was stunning. And then there were those red pouty lips. 
Fuck! Those red lips would be his undoing.
He’d been so busy taking her in that he hadn’t even realized she’d found him too. He backed away and then turned, heading towards the small private entrance that he and his brothers used to access the restaurant. He rounded a corner, heading towards a locked door.
Just as he put his finger on the keypad lock, he heard her soft voice.
“Wait, please,” she begged.
Cursing himself for his stupidity, he began to slowly turn. She took a tentative step towards him, staring at him like he was the answer to everything she’d ever desired. She halted less than a foot away, studying him, taking in every inch of him. She opened her mouth and closed it, unable to speak a word and then she wet her lips instead.
His eyes zeroed in on her mouth and his mind screamed with the urge to close the distance between them and pull her to him. To breathe her in. To taste those lips.
Fuck! Nothing in his life had prepared him for such madness. Such insanity. 
 Suddenly, the smoke alarm rang aloud and in the next second the lights went off.
She gasped.
There was nothing but pitch darkness everywhere and the smoke alarm blazing around him. He whipped his head around. What the fuck? Why had the backup generator not kicked in yet?
Something was seriously wrong. Thankfully there didn’t seem to be a fire. He couldn’t smell any smoke. However, for some bizarre reason the smoke detector had been activated and the lights had gone off. All this, he noted, had managed to incite fear and chaos among the people. In the distance he could hear someone screaming, glasses breaking and foots stomping as people rushed to the exit.
A second later the space around him was filled with the dull green light from the keypad of the security panel of the door beside him. Thankfully that was connected to another system. In the dim light, he caught the worry lining her face.
The door screeched. Heart thundering, he grabbed her arm and hauled her behind him, standing in front of her—alert and prepared to face whatever threat came his way. With the strange incident of the lights going off and then the backup not coming on, he didn’t trust who’d walk in through that door and he didn’t want to take any chances.
A bright white light shone on his face.
He raised his fists, ready to battle the intruder.
“Relax, brother,” Vihaan placated, sounding amused. He lowered his phone flash light. “It’s only me.”
Exhaling a harsh breath, Shaurya gave him a quiet nod. Vihaan angled his head and raised the phone to the woman standing silently behind Shaurya. Even in the shadows, Shaurya could make out the grimace on his brother’s face.
He would most certainly hear about this.
“I’ll check on what’s happening inside,” Vihaan finally said. “Join me when you’re done. It’s not a fire for sure.”
Relieved to hear that, Shaurya ushered her quickly outside the same door Vihaan had entered from. They crossed another dark corridor. Shaurya could navigate these hallways without a light, but he switched on his phone flash light, nonetheless. At the end of the passage, he opened another door and they stepped into the back alley of the building. Muted streetlights paved their way forward as he silently escorted Myra to the front of the building.
“Wait,” she said, halting. “Tiya, my friend, is inside. I need to make sure she’s safe.” 
She immediately removed her phone from her purse and called someone. He heard her speak in soft tones to her friend. And only once the two of them were convinced the other was safe, did Myra hang up.
“She’s fine,” Myra announced with a sigh. “She’s waiting outside the restaurant for me.”
Shaurya started in that direction, when he heard her say, “Wait, please.”
Frowning, he pivoted. 
 “I just…I just want to talk to you for a minute.” She took a step closer to him.  “Who…who are you?”
He remained silent, hating himself for being in this situation. He didn’t need any distractions at this point in life and this woman would become a major distraction if he allowed it. What was worse was that she was working for the enemy. And he couldn’t and wouldn’t betray his family by getting further entangled with her. 
Without replying he started forward again, but she caught his arm. Heat from her hand radiated right into his skin, leaving a trail of fire. She dropped her hand away, as if burnt.
She wet her lips. “Have we met before?”
God! She was relentless.
“We did meet briefly at the airport.” His lips curved. “Have you forgotten I helped you gather your stuff?”
Her cheeks pinkened. “Of course, I haven’t forgotten that. What I mean is…have we met prior to today?”
He stayed quiet assessing her while she too kept watching him in that deeply intense way of hers.
She tilted her head to the side. “You don’t talk much, do you?”
“Let’s go.” He splayed a hand out in the front. “You said your friend is waiting.”
“No, I just need a moment to figure out where I’ve met you before.”
“I assure you that we haven’t met...”
She chewed on her lower lip, thinking for a moment. “You feel so…so familiar.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“What is your name?” she pressed.
He looked heavenward. “Do you ever give up?”
She lifted her jaw, stubbornly.
He sighed. “Shaurya Rajpoot.”
“Shaurya,” she breathed out. And then she held her hand out. “Myra Gupta.”
Their hands touched and once again a spark flared on his skin. Her wide eyes rushed to his. It was clear that she had felt it too.
Removing his hand, he said, “Shall we?”
She fell into step with him.
“Are you single? Can we meet somewhere for coffee?” She soldiered on. “I mean not now, but tomorrow perhaps.”
His eyes rounded. “Are you always so direct?”
“When I need to be,” she stated.
They reached the end of the alley. Several people were crowded on the pavement outside the restaurant. 
Shaurya faced her. “I am single, but you seem to have forgotten that you aren’t.” He tipped his chin to her left hand. “And I don’t dally with engaged women.”
Her eyes flared with hurt. But it had to be said. He couldn’t meet her again, no matter how much he wished it so and the fact was that she was engaged. 
Without another word, she marched forward. He waited until she found her friend. The two of them hailed a passing cab. They climbed in and were soon out of his sight.



About the Author:
Sapna Bhog is an author from India who writes contemporary and historical romance novels. As a self-proclaimed die-hard romantic, her books are filled with swoon-worthy heroes and feisty heroines who clash all the time, but do get their happy ever after. Sapna has always surrounded herself with books and when she is not writing she is reading. Originally from Dubai, she now lives in Western India with her husband, kids and a Siberian Husky. Sapna gave up a successful IT career and took a foray into writing and has never looked back since. Her favourite pastimes are reading, writing, traveling and shopping—not necessarily in that order. She loves to hear from readers.

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Wednesday 11 August 2021

#1YrOfBreakthroughs :: The Breakthrough: 11 Trailblazers. One Movement. by Megha Bajaj - #NonFiction #SelfHelp #Spiritual @itsawowlifemb

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We all want happiness and success and keep chasing both throughout our lives. However, only 4-5 per cent of people in the entire world end up becoming successful and from among them less than 1 per cent become successful and happy. What is the secret power that propels these people to the top of the pyramid? What makes them who they are?
Author Megha Bajaj set out on a journey and visited different parts of the country and discovered 11 such individuals who were truly happy and successful. She realized that in a country of 1.3 billion people these individuals had one thing in common—they had the rare ability to turn an ordinary event into a significant one and then turn that into a ‘breakthrough’.
They seize the moment when there is nothing perceptible to seize; they look at the present and create a future; they realize that the Supreme Power is always there, only if one believes unfailingly, surrenders completely and works tirelessly. Meet Nitin, Asha, Arun, Chitra, Sandeep, Kanni, Uvaraj, Guru, Kavish, Mukesh, Praburam and Sushiil.
Even during the worst possible time the world has ever seen, the book will put you on the path to many wonderful things and a life full of contentment.

Book Link:
Goodreads * Amazon.in * Amazon.com


Read this book:

  • If you want to find excitement in the ordinary;
  • To realize that you need to keep moving regardless of success or failure;
  • To ask yourself: When was the last time you did something for the first time;
  • To understand why each human being is a co-creator of his or her own destiny;
  • To find out why even the sky is not enough for your imagination;
  • To accept the fact that life will keep jumping at you and keep saying, ‘Surprise!’;
  • To learn how to get rid of desperation and let everything just happen;
  • To realize that results may be delayed, but never denied;
  • To discover that the answer to all your troubles lies within you;
  • To keep expanding your Life Mantra;
  • To keep learning.


The Breakthrough - Song


The Publishing Journey: (Click on the photo to read the article)




About the Author:

Megha Bajaj is a Bestselling author of the book, The Breakthrough (Rupa). In the past, she has penned several acclaimed and award-winning books including Thank You, Cancer (Hay House), I Inspire (Jaico) and Happiness in the Age of Ambition (Rupa). She has written over a thousand articles for internationally acclaimed magazines and newspapers. Megha is a well-loved speaker and has been invited to premier institutes to share her insights. She was the youngest speaker at The World Confluence of Spirituality and Humanity for two consecutive years. Megha is also writing film scripts for prominent production houses and best knows herself as an ardent seeker.


Megha on the Web:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * LinkedIn







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Thursday 5 August 2021

#ReleaseDayBlitz :: Twilight's Temptation (Shades of Night #2) by Shilpa Suraj - @shilpaauthor #Contemporary #Romance

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 The ace photographer and the supermodel, they should have been a match made in heaven. Instead, they fought like the demons of hell. 


Complicated, surly, and sexy, Manav Apte was probably the only photographer who resented his muse. From the day he’d seen her, there had been no other. Unfortunately, she was the one woman he could never have.
Passionate, talented, and gorgeous, Diana Severes refused to give the temperamental ass behind the camera the satisfaction of knowing he got under her skin. It was, however, impossible not to notice him or his glowering disapproval that trailed her everywhere she went.
Their dislike and distrust of each other is legendary in the fashion industry and yet, the sparks that fly when they come together for work are enough to light the sets on fire.
Will the Golden Girl of India’s fashion scene be able to see beyond his hatred to the love he’s desperately trying to mask? And will the country’s most talented photographer realise that his true talent lies not in what he views through his lens but what he sees through the filter of his heart?

Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon.in * Amazon.com




Read an Excerpt from Twilight's Temptation


We walked along the beach. Me in my shorts and black t-shirt, Diana in a glamorous white beach dress with lace trim. If there was ever a contrast competition, we’d win it hands down.

“Are you okay?” I asked her. 

Diana shrugged. “I guess. That was unpleasant but necessary. I’ll get next steps in place as soon as we get back to Mumbai.” 

“Will your family be okay with this?” 

“My parents don’t get a say in my career decisions. My dad is ex-army and my mom is a teacher. They don’t understand how this world works anyway.” She sidestepped some dog shit on the beach, moving a little closer to me. 

I itched to wrap an arm around her, pull her in for a hug and kiss her. Instead, I clenched my hands in my pockets, Adil’s words still echoing in my head. 

“My brother, who is a typical tech nerd, wouldn’t bother to venture an opinion either. The only other person who would have understood was Andrew, the brother who died. He was the one who encouraged me to get into modelling and pursue my dreams.” Tears glimmered in her eyes, a stray one streaking across one golden hued cheek. 

“And this was your dream? To be a model?” 

She stared back towards the resort in the distance, her mind somewhere I couldn’t follow. 

“I wanted the fame, the glamour and the money. I wanted to be independent. I wanted to be someone. Modeling gave me all of that and when my time ends, and it will end, we all know that, I have a backup plan in place for that too.”

I stared at her, seeing her, truly seeing her for the first time since I’d met her two years ago. She was so much more than that gorgeous face and bubbly personality that people mistook to be the entirety of her.

“I wanted to be a wildlife photographer,” I blurted out with all the finesse of a horny sixteen year old. 

“You can still be one,” she smiled. “Just in addition to what you already do.”

“I work nonstop. I’d never be able to find the time,” I muttered. 

“We can always find the time if it’s important enough to us. We make time when we want to.” She cupped my cheek and pressed a light kiss on to it. 

She was right. We made time and space for what we wanted, for what was important to us. And in that moment, I knew… Diana was desperately important to me. 

“Everything he said was true, you know,” I told her, shoving my hands deeper into my pockets to keep them from reaching for her. 

“Everything I said was true too, Manav,” she smiled, sadly. “But what is your truth?” 

What was my truth? It was buried under so many years of misery, pain, and heartache, would I recognize it even if I found it?





About the Author:

Shilpa Suraj wears many hats - corporate drone, homemaker, mother to a fabulous toddler and author.

An avid reader with an overactive imagination, Shilpa has weaved stories in her head since she was a child. Her previous stints at Google, in an ad agency and as an entrepreneur provide colour to her present day stories, both fiction and non-fiction.




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Monday 26 July 2021

#CoverReveal :: Twilight's Temptation (Shades of Night #2) by Shilpa Suraj - @shilpaauthor #Contemporary #Romance

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The ace photographer and the supermodel, they should have been a match made in heaven. Instead, they fought like the demons of hell. 

Complicated, surly, and sexy, Manav Apte was probably the only photographer who resented his muse. From the day he’d seen her, there had been no other. Unfortunately, she was the one woman he could never have. 

Passionate, talented, and gorgeous, Diana Severes refused to give the temperamental ass behind the camera the satisfaction of knowing he got under her skin. It was, however, impossible not to notice him or his glowering disapproval that trailed her everywhere she went. 

Their dislike and distrust of each other is legendary in the fashion industry and yet, the sparks that fly when they come together for work are enough to light the sets on fire. 

Will the Golden Girl of India’s fashion scene be able to see beyond his hatred to the love he’s desperately trying to mask? And will the country’s most talented photographer realise that his true talent lies not in what he views through his lens but what he sees through the filter of his heart?


About the Author:




Shilpa Suraj wears many hats - corporate drone, homemaker, mother to a fabulous toddler and author.

An avid reader with an overactive imagination, Shilpa has weaved stories in her head since she was a child. Her previous stints at Google, in an ad agency and as an entrepreneur provide colour to her present day stories, both fiction and non-fiction.






Contact the Author:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Newsletter




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Sunday 4 July 2021

#ReleaseDayBlitz :: Loving You (Destination Weddings #6) by Andaleeb Wajid - @andaleebwajid #Contemporary #Romance

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Hamza Ali is ready to get married, fall in love and live happily ever after. The only problem is, he's about to marry one woman but falls in love with another... So how will he find his happily ever after?



After watching his brother's disastrous love marriage fall to pieces, Hamza decides that the only marriage for him is an arranged one. In Mahrukh, his family finds him the perfect bride. But while Mahrukh may be the perfect bride, it's her divorced aunt Noorain who is the perfect woman for him.
Noorain Alam has never loved or been loved. Until the day her niece gets engaged to a man who is completely out of her reach and yet, he's everything she never knew she wanted.
Blindsided by the strength of emotion they feel for each other, Noorain and Hamza find themselves in a battle for their happiness. But will love win? Or will family and duty stand in its way?




Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon.in * Amazon.com




Read an Excerpt from Loving You


Ghazal turned to her husband who was driving the car and she smiled at him. ‘I’ve never done this before,’ she said. She’d never had the opportunity to go and ‘see’ a girl, a potential bride and this was a novelty for her.

Hamdaan smiled at her indulgently. ‘You seem more excited than Hamza,’ he remarked. From the back seat, Ammi tittered. 

‘We’re all excited,’ she said. 

‘But why? I’m just baffled,’ Hamdaan said, shrugging. Ghazal caught her mother-in-law’s gaze in the rear-view mirror and smiled. 

‘Well, it’s the start of something new, right?’ she asked Hamdaan. ‘And we all want to see Hamza Bhai happy.’

Hamdaan merely shook his head as he navigated his way through the traffic. Ghazal glanced at him again and felt that deep feeling of contentment whenever she saw him. He looked at her too and smiled again. The special smile that was reserved for her and her heart felt like it was expanding in her chest. 

I love you, she thought softly. And she would never tire of telling him or hearing him declare it to her. She wanted this same happiness for Hamza Bhai as well. No one would take the place of Khalil Bhai for her but Hamza came quite close, in the past six months since she and Hamdaan had got married. 

‘So what happens once you see this girl?’ Hamdaan asked, looking at his mother in the rear-view mirror. 

‘The usual, beta. Engagement and then wedding if we like her,’ Ammi said. 

Hamdaan rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything. Ammi sighed. 

‘All mothers want to see their children happy,’ she said. ‘But sometimes, you children should also think about making us happy, shouldn’t you?’

‘But what do you want me to do?’ Hamdaan asked, frowning. Ghazal looked down at her lap. Surely her mother-in-law wasn’t asking them to have children so soon. She and Hamdaan were just figuring out things with each other and she wanted some more time for them to be on their own. But thankfully, Ammi wasn’t thinking of grandchildren yet. 

‘Nothing. I’m just saying that Hamza is making me very happy by agreeing to this. That’s all.’

‘But he’s not even getting to see the girl,’ Hamdaan commented. 

‘We’ll show her photo to him,’ Ammi said. 

‘And that’s it?’ Hamdaan asked. 

Ghazal looked at her husband and shook her head. ‘If Hamza Bhai wants to meet her…’ she started. After all, she and Hamdaan had met before they got married too and it had been on Hamdaan’s insistence. 

‘Well, he should,’ Hamdaan said. 

‘Let’s just see the girl first,’ Ammi replied. Hamdaan nodded and drove on and finally, when they reached the apartment building, the security guard let them inside. Hamdaan parked the car in the basement, surprised that the security was letting visitors park their cars inside. 

‘But it’s their own apartment building,’ Ghazal reminded him. The girl’s family owned the apartment building and lived there with some of their relatives and tenants.  

‘Oh right,’ Hamdaan said as they got out of the car. Before they had reached the stairs, there was a welcoming committee for them already – a group of women who were dressed as though for a wedding. 

Ghazal looked down at her own clothes and suddenly felt a little self-conscious that she was dressed down. But so was Ammi. They both had worn sober but classy outfits with minimum jewellery. The girl’s family however seemed to think that more the bling, the better it was. 

‘They all look like Christmas trees,’ Hamdaan muttered and Ghazal almost giggled. The girl’s father was waiting for Hamdaan and he met him like they were old friends, with a huge enveloping hug and led him away from there. The women, bedecked and perfumed generously, led Ghazal and Ammi towards the lift. 

‘Come, come,’ a woman said. Ghazal wondered if she was the bride’s mother. She looked quite young herself, but she had the sort of deportment that indicated that she was someone important in the family. 

Ghazal thought back to her own family, her parents as well as Khalil Bhai and Kimmy Bhabhi. None of them were as formal as these smiling women, she thought. And neither were they as formidable. 

Silks rustled and gleamed as they got inside the lift and one of the women leaned forward and pressed the button for the penthouse. She looked at Ghazal critically and Ghazal tried hard not to be affected by all the stares that were directed to them. Ammi was smiling and talking softly to one of the women and she marvelled at how easily everyone seemed to make small talk. She could never do that for some reason. 

The lift stopped and the doors opened into a luxurious carpeted apartment. The women stepped out and Ghazal followed them as they led her to one of the inner rooms and had them sit down on the sofa. She wondered if Hamdaan would be coming up here as well. 

‘So that’s the groom’s twin brother?’ the earlier woman asked her, a bright smile on her face. 

‘Yes,’ Ghazal replied, blushing slightly. ‘My husband.’

‘And the groom looks just like him?’

Ghazal nodded. She wanted to say that the similarities were only physical and that there was simply no one like her husband but she obviously couldn’t say all that. 

‘Ah, he’s so handsome,’ one of the women said with a giggle. 

That he is, Ghazal thought privately, fighting the smile on her face. Ammi looked around the room where they were seated and spoke. 

‘We would like to see the bride,’ she said firmly. 

‘Of course, of course. But first some refreshments. I’m the bride’s mother, Haniya,’ the woman said. Ghazal had been correct in her assessment. Something in her stomach churned when she realised that what they had before them was a huge responsibility. She and her mother in law were going to select a girl for Hamza Bhai, someone who would come and live in their house, become a part of their family. And the only criteria they had to select her was that she should be pretty? What if Hamza Bhai didn’t get along with her at all? 

But that was a risk they had to take, she thought as other women started filing in. She wondered just how many people stayed here, and maybe the thought was apparent on her face. 

‘These are my cousins and relatives,’ Haniya said. ‘They’ve come because it’s a huge day for us obviously.’

Ghazal nodded as some of the women started bringing in trays and snacks and refreshments for them. Her phone beeped and she pulled it out from her bag and looked at it unobtrusively. 

It was a message from Hamza. 

‘So? You saw her?’

‘Not yet’ She typed back and put her phone away. She wondered how pretty Mahrukh was and whether people would start comparing the two of them, once she got married to Hamza Bhai. 


About the Author:


Andaleeb Wajid is the author of 27 published novels and she writes across different genres such as romance, YA and horror. Her horror novel It Waits was shortlisted at Mami Word to Screen 2017 and her Young Adult series, The Tamanna Trilogy has been optioned for screen by a reputed production house. Andaleeb's novel When She Went Away was shortlisted for The Hindu Young World Prize in 2017. Andaleeb is a hybrid author who has self-published more than 10 novels in the past two years.

Andaleeb on the Web:
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