Sharing: DOUBLE JEOPARDY on Indireads

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Indireads is launching tomorrow (June 12, 2013) with Summer of Love – a collection of 30 romance novellas. I am proud to say that my novel DOUBLE JEOPARDY is one of them.

They have loads of offers through the whole month

• Special book bundles that couple the best books together into great deals for you. They will be running 2 book bundles a day for the entire week.

• Special discounts throughout the day for people who wish to purchase multiple books, including special coupons that are only available from the authors, so that you can get to know them better. My Coupon Code is SVN10. Please use it! It gets you a discount of purchase over $5 (currency converter available on page). You can use the code any number of times from June 12 to July 12 2013.

Well folks, this is just the beginning - there’s loads more to come.

I would like to share some of the reviews that I have received from those who have already read DOUBLE JEOPARDY. Do check them out.

Sujatha says…

A complete story in less than ninety pages! Totally absorbing and a very good read. Well dealt characterizations, clear and concise situations written in well thought out dialogues.
The absorption of a young woman in her childhood memories of twins who were her friends and her present growing understanding of the difference in their grown up versions leading to the congruence of her mind and heart are handled with sympathy and logic.
In all, I totally enjoyed the mini novel. All the very best for all your other attempts also. Looking forward to more and varied reading.
Your proud and loving sister
Suja

Jaya Biswas says…

Love makes life worth living. Isn’t it? I’m sure eight out of 10 women would vouch for it. No wonder M&Bs are still a rage among women of all ages. But in this age and time, when you’d rather prefer reading an e-book on your phone than flipping pages of a paperback, romantic stories can indeed make your journey smoother — transporting you to a different word altogether. Take for example, Sundari Venkatraman’s latest offing, Double Jeopardy. This short and sweet love story makes for a nice and quick read.

All of 80 pages, the book talks about teenage infatuation and how, gradually, it matures into love. The protagonist, Sanya, seems real — someone you can immediately relate to. Sanya is in love with Arth and to meet him, she comes to Mumbai all the way from UK. To her disappointment, she is received by Arth’s twin brother Ansh at the airport. Sanya hated Ansh ever since she was a kid and she makes her dislike apparent from the very beginning. But where is Arth, her knight in the shining armor? Will Sanya finally get to meet her true love?

Sundari has kept the language really simple, which in fact adds a certain pace to the storyline.  For a love story, this one too has its share of twists, but surely that could have been handled in a bit matured way. The story almost runs in a linear pattern and lacks depth. But if reading romance is your staple diet, no harm trying this one.

fmj says…

I have to say Double Jeopardy surprised me. I expected a completely fun and frolic kind of romance but it is much, much more than just that. Extremely well written, Double Jeopardy explores sensitive social issues, fraternal bonds, a young girl’s journey of self-discovery and of course love.

Sundari’s rendition of an Indian household is interesting and gives a non-Indian a wonderful insight into it. One can’t help but fall in love with all the characters, because Sundari’s etched them all, with such sensitivity and depth. I really, really enjoyed reading the novella and look forward to reading more from Sundari.

Jaya Siva Murty says…

A really really sweet story, Double Jeopardy takes us through the life of a woman who battles between her heart and her head. A quick read that’s woven well by Sundari’s easy storytelling style, this one is all ready to be rolled into a film!

roopa80 says…

Sundari Venkatraman’s Double Jeopardy is completely contemporary-right from its cover, title to its overall feel. Set against the backdrop of urban India, Sundari Venkatraman has successfully managed to weave a sizzling, Bollywood style love story with ease. The liberal attitudes and mindset of all the characters clearly keeps with the urbane milieu of the book making it a very refreshing read. With her perky writing style Sundari Venkatraman has effectively managed to let the reader indulge in the headiness of young love and crushes without any inhibitions. This one is a really delightful read!

ShwetaGK says…

This one is so Bollywood!

A gorgeous heroine who finds her calling when she returns to her roots and two handsome hunks, twin brothers who are alike only in appearance and nothing else.

A quick read about young love and old crushes – Sundari Venkatraman’s Double Jeopardy is a fun read with characters that make you want to fall in love all over again.

saimini says…

Sizzling! That’s what Double Jeopardy is. I love the way Sundari has penned the electricity between Sanya and Ansh. The intimate scenes and deliciously lyrical and sensuous without being vulgar or erotic. The end seemed to drag on a bit, but the romance between the lead characters in the climax more than made up for any shortcoming . The first thought that came into my mind after reading this was, “THIS is what romance novels are all about!”

Sumeetha says…

Sanya is in love with the warm hearted son of her host in Mumbai since childhood. But handsome Arth is polite and friendly but sadly he does not set her heart on fire as opposed to his twin Ansh. But faithful to her childhood memory, Sanya tries to rekindle the love that she felt for Arth but things do not always happen as we plan. Instead of Arth, it is playful and wickedly sexy Ansh who is buzzing around her trying to catch her fancy.

Loved Sanya’s character as her bewildered heart falls for Ansh but is too proud to accept the truth. Very interesting read!

Recipe: ONION CHUTNEY

Onion Chutney

I have seen people making different types of Onion Chutney. I finally ended up making it in the simplest possible fashion, mainly to get the yummy chutney ready at short notice.

INGREDIENTS

Onion – 4 (large – peeled and cut)
Red Chillies – 6 (add more if you like it spicy)
Tamarind – one ball the size of a small lemon
Salt to taste
Oil – 2 tbsp
Rai – 1 tsp
Kotmir – 1 tsp (chopped)

METHOD

1. Add the first four ingredients in a mixer and grind to a smooth paste.
2. Heat the oil in a kadai (non-stick is preferable) and crackle the rai in it.
3. Add the paste and cook for 8-10 minutes till it turns into a thick chutney.
4. Garnish with kotmir and serve hot or cold.

Onion Chutney tastes delicious with Idlis, Dosas or Rotis. It can even be had mixed with plain rice. 

eBook Review: A SCANDALOUS PROPOSITION By MM George

Ranbir Dewan is a multimillionaire businessman. Mira has recently moved to Delhi from Meerut. Sparks fly when the two meet. He offers to bed her for a price and Mira is scandalised. But she is unable to refute the deep attraction she feels for him. Would the boss of Dewan Group of Industries be interested in the assistant cook working in his office cafeteria? You will need to read the book to find out.

What can I say! I felt transported to my teens when I read this book. It was like falling in love with romance all over again, only this time it was set right here in India and not in some remote corner of England. Boy! George aka Mimmy Jain has woven a lovely story in superb English that is simply delightful. I could not stop midway as the story flowed so smoothly and just had to be finished at one go. Ranbir is an ideal romantic hero and Mira is his perfect match. A drool-worthy read indeed!

Mimmy Jain, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book and look forward to more.

Click Here to purchase your copy of A SCANDALOUS PROPOSITION by MM George on Indireads  

Recipe: CHANNA MASALA

Channa Masala

Hotel Ramdeo in Sion used to serve the most delicious Channa Masala that I have ever tasted. While the restaurant is still very much part of Sion West, the standard has deteriorated so badly that we have stopped going there.

But I did my best to reinvent the Channa Masala in my own kitchen and the result was quite delicious.

INGREDIENTS

Kabuli Channa – 250 gm (soaked for 6-8 hours)

Kabuli Channa

Bay leaf – 2
Jeera – ½ tsp
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder – 1 pinch
Oil – 2 tbsp
Jaggery – 2 tbsp
Kotmir – 2 tbsp (chopped)

Masala

Onion – 2 (medium)
Tomato – 2 (medium)
Garlic – 5-6 cloves
Ginger – ½ inch piece

Masala Powders

Garam masala powder – ¼ tsp
Turmeric powder – 1 large pinch
Chilli powder – ¾ tsp
Dhania powder – ¼ tsp
Jeera powder – ¼ tsp

METHOD

1. Cook the soaked channa along with water, salt and a pinch of turmeric powder for 8 whistles.
2. Grind the masala ingredients to a smooth paste.
3. Take a saucepan and heat the oil in it.
4. Add the jeera and bay leaf and wait for them to crackle before adding the ground masala.
5. Allow this to cook for 4-5 minutes with a lid on it. Stir from time to time.
6. Add all the masala powders and mix well before letting the mixture cook for a few more minutes.
7. Switch off the gas when you see the oil separating from the gravy.
8. Now add the gravy to the channa in the pressure cooker and mix well.
9. Add the jaggery and allow the whole mixture to cook together for 5 minutes.
10. Remove to a serving bowl and garnish with kotmir.

Serve hot with puris, rotis or rice. Believe me when I say it’s super-yummy.

eBook Review: GIRL FROM FATEHPUR By Sarita Varma

Sanjana is shocked when Krish proposes marriage. She is not sure she wants to marry her colleague but he appears to take her for granted. That’s when she escapes to Fatehpur to attend a family wedding. Rajan turns up unexpectedly. In her teens, Sanjana had believed herself in love with Rajan. But he had not been interested. When opportunities throw Sanjana and Rajan together, again and again, she begins to dream of a second chance. But Krish turns up at the wedding in pursuit of her. Read Girl From Fatehpur to find out who will be the lucky man to get Sanjana.

It’s a lovely story woven together in well written English by Sarita Varma. I enjoyed the building up of relationship between the main characters. The wedding scene, the Kumbh Mela and the car ride taken by Rajan and Sanjana to Fatehpur make for an interesting read. The love triangle between Krish, Sanjana and Rajan keeps the reader hooked till the end, hoping that she would land up with the right man. Congratulations Sarita Varma! Way to go! Looking forward to more from you!

Click Here to get your copy of GIRL FROM FATEHPUR by Sarita Varma on Indireads 

Recipe: KARARI BHINDI

Karari Bhindi

Well, I am proud to say that this recipe is my own creation. It’s not only a hit with my family, but also my friend and her family. Bhindi or lady’s finger is very good for health. That said, it might be difficult to persuade people to eat it unless it is deeply fried. That way, the chances are that it loses all its healthy properties. The way I make it, the dish is quite tasty as well as it retains at least some of its vitamins and other ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

Lady’s finger (Bhindi) – ½ kg (cut into ½ inch pieces)
Oil – 3 tbsp
Rai – ½ tsp
Jeera – ½ tsp
Kotmir – 1 tbsp (chopped)

Raw mix

Besan – 4 tbsp
Salt to taste
Dhania powder – ½ tsp
Jeera powder – ½ tsp
Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
Chilli powder – ½ tsp (can be more or less as per taste)
Hing powder – 1 large pinch
Garam masala powder – ¼ tsp (optional)

METHOD

1. Take a large mixing bowl and place the cut lady’s fingers in it.
2. Add all the items under ‘raw mix’ and gently mix with the bhindi till each one is well coated.
3. Keep aside for about half an hour, while mixing two or three times in between.
4. Heat a non-stick kadai and add the oil to it. When the oil is hot, crackle the rai and jeera before adding the bhindi mixture.
5. Cook gently on slow to medium fire, stirring gently from time to time. Make sure that the bhindi pieces don’t break.
6. Once it’s well cooked, switch off the gas, remove to a serving dish, garnish with kotmir.

Karari Bhindi tastes super yummy with rotis and puris.

NOTE: If you prefer to have Karari Bhindi with South Indian sambar or rasam rice, avoid using garam masala powder.

Film Review: YEH JAWANI HAI DIWANI

The Kapoor waaris keeps getting better and better! 

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Kunaal Roy Kapoor, Kalki Koechlin, Farooq Sheikh, Tanvi Azmi
Director: Ayan Mukerji

THE STORY

The film begins with Aditi’s (Kalki Koechlin) wedding invitations being sent to her best friends Naina (Deepika Padukone), Kabir aka Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) and Avinash aka Avi (Aditya Roy Kapoor). Aditi is getting married to Taran (Kunaal Roy Kapoor). Seeing the invite takes Naina down memory lane eight years back. We see in flashback how the shy, introvert Naina, became friends with the other three. Naina falls in love with Kabir who does not want to be tied down to one woman. Back to the present, Kabir is living his dream of travelling the world as a photo journalist. Avi runs a business that is going down the drain while he drinks and gambles his way through life. Naina is a practising doctor living in Mumbai. The rest of the film is set against the backdrop of the many programmes that take place at Aditi’s wedding in Udaipur. Naina falls in love with Kabir all over again. Will he ever return her feelings?

MY PERCEPTION

The film is a typical modern romance with a lot of glamour and glitter. The trek to Manali has been beautifully filmed. The music and dance during the events leading up to Aditi’s wedding are quite entertaining and well made.

Deepika, for a change, does not play a dumb party girl and has added a few depths to the character of Naina. She’s has come a long way and finally, it was nice to see her in a proper role.

Ranbir Kapoor! Well, what is there to say that has not already been said? He’s just amazing and does a superb job of playing Kabir – an affectionate son, a loyal friend and a man desperate to live his dreams. All the while, he appears to be someone with no heart. Ranbir’s subtle acting adds so many layers to the character and we can but sit back and applaud. He has his mother Neetu’s eyes and they are so expressive. Kudos!

Aditya Roy Kapoor – I probably would not have noticed him if I had not seen Aashiqui 2 before this one. While he has a major role, I felt quite fed up of seeing the same act of a drunkard throughout the film. He was passable.

Kalki Koechlin was very good in her role as Aditi. From being an irresponsible youngster who is so in love with Avi, she grows up to being a responsible adult who genuinely values her relationship with Taran. Well done, Kalki!

While it was a fun watch, when you get back home and sit back to think about it, it makes you wonder what was really there in the film. Well, just as the title suggests, ‘Jawaani is Diwaani’. The film is all about how these four friends – rather three, not counting Avi – grow up to become mature adults.

One thing that I could not quite digest is how everyone keeps drinking non-stop. There appears to be a kind of desperation as each and every scene is with all of them – with the exception of Naina, sometimes – drinking away their lives. Are today’s youth so brainless?

VERDICT: It’s worth a watch, especially to see Ranbir in action! He’s just amazing!

RATING: ***Smart

*Silly
**Shaky
***Smart
****Snazzy
*****Super