Day 336 - The Sari Shop Widow Winner

The winner The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal is ...

Andrea from

Buried in Books!

Congrats!! I've emailed you already and you have until Wednesday, November 11th to email me back. Thanks to everyone who entered =)

Day 321 - WIN The Sari Shop Widow

**CONTEST CLOSED**

I'm giving away my gently read, autographed, copy of The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal.

To Enter:

-Comment that you'd like the book and PLEASE leave your email address. (I'm afraid I won't be counting your entry if you fail to do so, sorry)


For Extra Entries:

+2-Become a follower/subscriber!! (If you already are one, hugs to you, let me know and you get these!)
+1-Follow me on twitter!! (Button located on my right sidebar - please leave your @name so I can verify)
+1- Comment on my review! (<---- click the link)
+1- Comment on the interview! (<----click the link)

=Total # of possible entries: 6

Giveaway ends November 7th and the winner will be announced the following day on the 8th. Only US entries please.

Day 319 - From the Desk of...

...author Shobhan Bantwal!

On the role of books and writing in her life and what led her to become an author:

Growing up in a small town in India in the 1950s and 60s, books were the only entertainment for my sisters and me. There was no television in those days and radio catered strictly to adults with serious news, music, and cricket commentaries for sports buffs. As a result, children had no other source of entertainment other than playing with friends and reading.

In our town we had a small library-cum-bookstore called Oliver’s that was a cramped room filled with books. Membership at the library cost a monthly fee for each member. My girlfriends, sisters, and I used to frequent Oliver’s all through our summer vacations. Copies of books were limited and everyone was scrambling around to read popular books while they were put on a waiting list.

My mother, who was married off at the age of 15 in an old-fashioned arranged marriage, was an avid reader and instilled the love of reading in every one of her five daughters. For that and for giving us a wonderful education in the English language I will always be grateful. Without that I could never have become an author.

I was a late bloomer – a 50-year old empty-nester, when I took up creative writing as an interesting hobby to ward off the loneliness of my weekday evenings while my husband worked on an out-of-state engineering project Monday through Friday. As my non-fiction articles and short stories began to gain attention, honours and awards, my ambitions started to grow. Why not write novels and become a published author, I asked myself. And thus began my quest for a literary agent and a publisher.

Finding a reputable agent and later a publisher was not an easy task, as every fiction author knows, but it was a challenge and therefore worth pursuing. After three published books, I have come to realize how much commitment in terms of time, money, effort, and perseverance it takes to become a published fiction author. But despite the tumultuous nature of the journey, it has its rewards. Every letter I receive from a reader who enjoys my books makes it a worthwhile adventure.

THE SARI SHOP WIDOW is available at all U.S. and Canadian bookstores and online booksellers.

To contact me or learn more about my books, author events, book trailer video, recipes, short stories, and sign up for my newsletter, visit my website www.shobhanbantwal.com

Day 318 - The Sari Shop Widow

The Sari Shop Widow

Shobhan Bantwal

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: September 2009

Publisher: Kensington Publishing

Pages: 352

Author Site: http://www.shobhanbantwal.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Synopsis [from kensingtonbooks.com]:

Pungent curry…sweet fried onions…incense…colorful beads…lush fabrics. Shobhan Bantwal’s compelling new novel is set on the streets of Edison, New Jersey’s Little India, where a young businesswoman rediscovers the magic of love and family…

Since becoming a widow at age twenty-seven, Anjali Kapadia has devoted herself to transforming her parents' sari shop into a chic boutique, brimming with exquisite jewelry and clothing. Now, ten years later, it stands out like a proud maharani amid Edison’s bustling Little India. But when Anjali learns the shop is on the brink of bankruptcy, she feels her world unraveling…

To the rescue comes Anjali’s wealthy, dictatorial Uncle Jeevan and his business partner, Rishi Shah—a mysterious Londoner, complete with British accent, cool gray eyes, and skin so fair it makes it hard to believe he’s Indian. Rishi’s cool, foreign demeanor triggers distrust in Anjali and her mother. But for Anjali, he also stirs something else, a powerful attraction she hasn’t felt in a decade. And the feeling is mutual…

Love disappointed Anjali once before and she’s vowed to live without it—though Rishi is slowly melting her resolve and, as the shop regains its footing, gaining her trust. But when a secret from Rishi’s past is revealed, Anjali must turn to her family and her strong cultural upbringing to guide her in finding the truth…

Review:

Anjali is a strong woman faced with a serious dilemma. She co-owns a sari shop in a small Indian enclave in New Jersey with her beloved parents that is about to go bankrupt. After a breakdown from her husband's death ten years ago, she picked herself up and poured her devotion into the shop. Anjali refuses to see it go under after everything she has put into it. Thirty-seven and living with her parents hasn't stopped Anjali from having her own life either. It's a life she keeps a secret from her parents and readers will find that her reasons are very understandable.

When her rich and intimidating uncle comes all the way from India to help her and her family, Anjali must find a way to cope with the thought that outsiders may be coming in to take over what is rightfully hers. Her anger and frustration are crystal clear and comes right out of the pages and grabs the reader's attention. Anjali is a totally real character with strong family values, a woman you can definitely find out in the real world.

The turn around of the Silk & Sapphires is only the background of Anjali's development as a character. However, that part of the story fascinated me the most. It was beautifully detailed and I wanted nothing more than to jump into the book to watch as the new sari boutique was born. Shobhan says in her interview that if she were filthy rich, Anjali's boutique would be her dream boutique she'd want to work on. It was fun to read about and a perfect backdrop to the story.

The romance between Anjali and her uncle's business partner is a reluctant one at first. I was totally captivated by their relationship as it grew though. Rishi is patient and kind but has secrets of his own. To further the idea of the modern independent woman, Anjali wants nothing to do with outside help. It's when her carefully erected wall starts to crumble that the reader catches their first glimpse of just how vulnerable she really is.

THE SARI SHOP WIDOW was such a delightful and easy read. I enjoyed every moment of it. From the rich culture to characters that were easy to relate to, I think this book will find a place in every one's heart! There are so many genres woven into the novel that I found myself easily breezing through the pages of Anjali's story. Shobhan created such a wonderful atmosphere with exciting and down-to-earth characters. I'm eager to read some of her other books.

Day 317 - Q&A with Author Shobhan Bantwal

I'm very pleased to bring you all an interview I did with Shobhan Bantwal, author of The Sari Shop Widow (along with The Forbidden Daughter & The Dowry Bride). I had such a great time immersing myself in a new culture without feeling overwhelmed. Shobhan is a wonderful storyteller =)

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A lil background info before we go on:

Shobhan Bantwal was born and raised in India and came to the United States as a young bride in an arranged marriage. She has published short fiction in literary magazines and articles in a number of publications. Writing plays in her mother tongue (Indian language—Konkani) and performing on stage at Indian-American conventions are some of her hobbies. She lives in New Jersey with her husband. Shobhan loves to hear from her readers.

You can find out more about her and her books here: http://www.shobhanbantwal.com/

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Me: I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed The Sari Shop Widow. Can you describe it for those who haven’t heard of it?

Shobhan: Thank you so much for the kind words about THE SARI SHOP WIDOW. Set on the streets of Edison, New Jersey, it tells the story of a young businesswoman who rediscovers the magic of love, family, and her roots as she fights to save her failing sari boutique. This is a book about the Indian-American immigrant experience and the joys and challenges that come with it. I call my writing “Bollywood in a Book.”

Me: What do you think the hardest part of writing The Sari Shop Widow was for you?

Shobhan: The hardest part was creating the right amount of conflict in my protagonist, Anjali Kapadia’s mind. She is a second-generation Indian-American and like all children born to conservative immigrant parents, she straddles two diverse cultures. Meeting the expectations of both and trying to fit into both is a serious challenge for young women like Anjali. She wants to be her own woman and yet she is mindful of her parents’ delicate sensibilities. Since I was a first-generation immigrant, I didn’t have those same issues, but I watched my daughter struggle with them. I had to put myself in her shoes to be able to create the battling emotions experienced by Anjali.

Me: I must say I really enjoyed your characters. Are they based on people in your life? What about Anjali – your main character? Can you see any of yourself in her?

Shobhan: None of my characters are based on people in real life. However, some of their personality traits are similar to mine and my daughter’s. Usha Kapadia, Anjali’s mother often thinks and behaves like me and Anjali’s demeanor sometimes reminds me of my daughter’s. My heroes at times say and do things that my husband does. I believe unconsciously every author puts a little bit of herself and/or someone she knows into her characters.

Me: I had such a great time reading about Silk & Sapphires – Anjali’s boutique. I literally wanted to jump in the book to see the store! Is it based on a place you’ve visited before?

Shobhan: The enclave called Little India, which is the backdrop for THE SARI SHOP WIDOW, is an actual Indian-American community in Edison, New Jersey. I have described it in my book in as much detail as possible. Nonetheless, none of the stores are anything like Silk & Sapphires. It is my dream store, something I would love to build and own (if I were filthy rich) so I decided to make it my protagonist’s dream store. As an author, it was my chance to indulge in my creative imagination and live vicariously through Anjali.

Me: Which of your books was your most favorite to write and why?

Shobhan: I don’t have a favorite book as such. Each book is something I immerse myself in while I’m writing it. One thing I can say is I fall in love with every one of my heroes and I’m loath to let go of them when the story ends. But I must admit my favorite protagonist is Megha, the heroine of my debut book, THE DOWRY BRIDE, perhaps because she is such a contrast to me. She is sweet and trusting and guileless, everything that I’m not but would have liked to be. Also, the photo on the cover of THE DOWRY BRIDE is of my daughter dressed as an Indian bride.

Me: What was your dream job as a child?

Shobhan: For some insane reason I thought it would be fun to be a lawyer when I was a teenager, perhaps because I loved to argue a point to death. But as I grew up I decided it was a dull profession with no redeeming qualities. I ended up majoring in sociology in college. Today I’m a full-time bureaucrat in a government agency. Writing, especially fiction, was never on my occupational radar at any time, until I hit 50. That is precisely why I call my writing career a “menopausal epiphany.”

Me: If you could write a book about absolutely anything with any author who would you choose? What would the book be about?

Shobhan: If I could write a cookbook in partnership with someone like Lydia Bastianich of Lydia’s Table or a romance with Nora Roberts, I’d absolutely jump at the chance. Both those ladies are awesome and tops in their respective fields. I love Lydia’s cookery show and I adore Nora’s books. I’d be honored and delighted to do either one.

Me: Are you currently working on a new project?

Shobhan: A fourth novel is slated for publication in 2010 by my publisher, Kensington Publishing. I’m brainstorming with my editor over some ideas, so by the end of this year I should have something solid to start work on. After that project, I don’t have anything cooking. My karma will take me to whatever destination it chooses.

Me: Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer some of my questions, Shobhan. It really was a pleasure reading The Sari Shop Widow and I’m definitely going to check out your other books.

Shobhan: The pleasure is all mine. I love talking about my books and my culture, and you have tapped into both with this interview. So I should be the one to thank you for hosting me on your popular blog. I sincerely hope you will read my other books and enjoy them just as much as THE SARI SHOP WIDOW.

The book trailer for this book and others, plus more information is available on all my writing, my photo gallery, and recipes at my website: http://www.shobhanbantwal.com/

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Make sure to check back tomorrow for my review. Shobhan will be stopping by again on Thursday for a guest post and keep your eyes peeled for a giveaway =)

Day 280 - Book Arrivals

No book shopping this time around sadly. But my birthday is on Tuesday and I'm begging hoping for some B&N gift cards =) We'll see though...



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From PaperBackSwap:

Servant: The Awakening :: L.L. Foster

Book one in the Servant series

Urban paranormal fantasy featuring Gabrielle Cody: Servant. Slayer. Seducer.

Gabrielle Cody has the ability to see the demons among us as they really are-and the responsibility to destroy them. She can't allow anyone to get in her way, even the magnetic Detective Luther Cross. Sensing a malevolent presence watching and stalking her, Gaby is drawn again and again to an abandoned hospital surrounded by an aura of sickness and suffering-and unimaginable evil.

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From Contests/Giveaways & Misc:

Mark of the Demon :: Diana Rowland

(Received from BantamSpectra)

Cop and conjurer of demons, she's a woman in danger of losing control - to a power that could kill....

Why me? Why now? That's what Beaulac, Louisiana, detective Kara Gillian was asking herself when an angelic creature named Rhyzkahl unexpectedly appeared during a routine summoning. Kara was hoping to use her occult skills to catch a serial killer, but never had she conjured anything like this unearthly beautiful and unspeakably powerful being whose very touch set off exquisite new dimensions of pleasure. But can she enlist his aid in helping her stop a killer who's already claimed the lives - and souls - of thirteen people? And should she? The Symbol Man is a nightmare that the city thought had ended three years ago. Now he's back for an encore and leaving every indication on the flesh of his victims that he, too, is well versed in demonic lore.

Kara may be the only cop on Beaulac's small force able to stop the killer, but it is her first homicide case. Yet with Rhyzkahl haunting her dreams, and a handsome yet disapproving FBI agent dogging her waking footsteps, she may be in way over her head...

Suite Scarlett :: Maureen Johnson

(Received from Amelia. Thank you!! )

Scarlett is the third of four children in the Martin family. The Martins live in and manage a shabby hotel in NYC that dates back to the 1920s. When Scarlett turns 15, she is put in charge of one of the hotel's 27 rooms- the Empire Suite. Into this room moves Mrs. Amberson, a failed 1970s starlet who has returned to New York to write her memoirs. Soon, Scarlett is taking dictation, running around town with Mrs. Amberson, and getting caught up in her Auntie Mame-meets-Bianca Jagger adventures.

In the midst of all this, Scarlett falls in love - or so she thinks - and it takes Mrs. Amberson to help her see the light.

The Sari Shop Widow :: Shobhan Bantwal

(Received for review for Blog Tour)

Pungent curry…sweet fried onions…incense…colorful beads…lush fabrics. Shobhan Bantwal's compelling new novel is set on the streets of Edison, New Jersey's Little India, where a young businesswoman rediscovers the magic of love and family…

Since becoming a widow at age twenty-seven, Anjali Kapadia has devoted herself to transforming her parents' sari shop into a chic boutique, brimming with exquisite jewelry and clothing. Now, ten years later, it stands out like a proud maharani amid Edison's bustling Little India. But when Anjali learns the shop is on the brink of bankruptcy, she feels her world unraveling…

To the rescue comes Anjali's wealthy, dictatorial Uncle Jeevan and his business partner, Rishi Shah—a mysterious Londoner, complete with British accent, cool gray eyes, and skin so fair it makes it hard to believe he's Indian. Rishi's cool, foreign demeanor triggers distrust in Anjali and her mother. But for Anjali, he also stirs something else, a powerful attraction she hasn't felt in a decade. And the feeling is mutual…

Love disappointed Anjali once before and she's vowed to live without it—though Rishi is slowly melting her resolve and, as the shop regains its footing, gaining her trust. But when a secret from Rishi's past is revealed, Anjali must turn to her family and her strong cultural upbringing to guide her in finding the truth…

Cleopatra's Daughter :: Michelle Moran

(Received for review from author)

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, but only two—the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander—survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

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See you all next time...

Happy Reading!