The Unexpected Son by Shobhan Bantwal

The Unexpected Son by Shobhan Bantwal

Vinita is a young woman in contemporary India and the captain of the college cricket team pays attention to her. For a very focused student, that is overwhelming and she simply has to make any adjustments in her life to enjoy his attention. They start off with innocent cups of coffee in a local coffee shop, but things turn more serious and intimate. Vinita is from a strict Indian family and she knows that her behavior isn’t “approved”, but she’s young and “in love”.

Soon Vinita must face the fact that she’s pregnant. That is hard enough,  she must tell her family but first she has to tell the father. His reaction is that he will pay for an abortion – that leaves her with no options. She has to tell her parents.  It goes as bad as she feared and her older brother is called home to help them deal with the “situation”. Vinita goes to live with her brother until the baby is born and her mother comes to be with her for the baby’s birth.

Vinita is insistent that she will keep her baby and raise it on her own – totally against her family’s wishes. She is very sick when she goes into labor and her body is too weak to get through a difficult delivery. So, the doctor, a friend of her brother’s, suggests a C-section. Eventually, she is too weak to argue. Hours later when she wakes, Vinita is told that her son didn’t survive. Imagine the guilt of a young mother who was too sick to delivery her baby, who made the decision to try to have the baby naturally and then she learns that he died.

Time passes and Vinita’s family eventually finds a marriage match for her and she moves to the United States to start a new life and a family with her husband.  Her life is happy and she loves her husband and her daughter. Things are good in her new life until an unexpected letter arrives – it says that her son is very sick and may not survive. Obviously she is confused – then she speaks to her brother who admits her son didn’t die all those years ago. As she tries to grasp the truth, she must face the fact that her husband and daughter don’t even know she was pregnant. How can she tell them that she lied to them?

That letter sets of a chain of unexpected and emotional events for Vinita, her husband, her daughter, her parents, her brother and sister in law. In addition, she is caught in the middle of an unexpected “turf war” in her home town.

If you like stories that tug on your heart strings, reveal the dynamics of family background and help you get inside the mind of a young innocent Indian woman making her way in the world – you will love The Unexpected Son. Author, Shobhan Bantwal, brings her rich personal history and vivid creativity and imagination to her stories which will give you insights into Indian culture and open the complicated lives of her characters. Each of her books provide a unique glimpse into Indian culture and tradition and they provide a journey that I highly recommend.

A Note From Shobhan – Information about my books, video trailers, contact, photos from India, reviews, contests, and recipes is available on my website: www.shobhanbantwal.com.  Enter a giveaway on my website during August for a FREE copy of The Unexpected Son.  You can also visit me on Facebook and MySpace. All my books can be purchased at any retail bookstore or online bookseller. For more information about The Unexpected Son virtual tour, visit http://bookpromotionservices.com/2010/07/02/unexpected-son-virtual-tour/

Cafe Tempest: Adventures on a Small Greek Island by Barbara Bonfigli

I have several friends from Greece and some other friends who have traveled to Greece – they have all said things that make me think I would enjoy a trip to a Greek Island. Of course, keep in mind I love any place near the water — so chances are good that I would enjoy the trip. However, I’ve seen my bank account and there is almost no chance I’ll get to Greece. This was one of the reasons I was eager to read Cafe Tempest: Adventures on a Small Greek Island.

Barbara Bonfigli set this fictional memoir on a fictional island that is based somewhat on an island that she visits. Sarah is the main character and the narrator’s name. She  gives us her impression of the people, the places, the sites, the sounds, the food and much more as we make our way through Cafe Tempest. I enjoyed all these elements of Greece and enjoyed my trip to Pharos.

Sarah travels to Pharos to get away from a break up and for a holiday — her friend, who we find out is a former lover, travels with her to Pharos. They approach the island and the people in different ways. Its clear that Alexandra, Sarah’s friend, is not used to the quaint village and the way of life in Pharos. But, they make the best of their time on the island and Sarah is convinced to direct the locals in a play — this works out well and seems like a natural fit because of her experience in the theatre. However, she’s used to dealing with experienced, professional and talented actors — the locals do not fit that description at all. To make it even more interesting, she picked Shakespeare’s The Tempest as the play that they will perform.

The casting, the rehearsals, the locals, the limited access to transportation and communication are just a few of the colorful elements of this story. The Volvo that seems to disappear on a regular basis is just one of the fluky things that happens during the story.

The characters are colorful and perhaps too plentiful. I am a big fan of writing in first person and all my novels are written in this format. However, I noticed something while I was reading this book that I will be even more conscious of from now on. While first person gives you insights into the mind and thoughts of the narrator – there were times when I felt those thoughts were not being shared as much as they were being shoved on me. There were also times when I felt the the author was trying too hard — in these areas, the story didn’t flow as easily as it did in other areas. One other thing – and all authors struggle with this — there were times when the dialogue would’ve been more effective for me if it had been trimmed. These were just a few things that struck me as I was reading the book.

If you want to travel to a faraway place through the pages of a book — which is one of my favorite things about reading — this is a book that you will enjoy. If you want to get a comical and detailed view of a Greek island – you should definitely read this book. It was enjoyable, I often laughed out loud while I was reading it and I enjoyed the sights and sounds of Greece. It would be fun to read on the beach, by the pool, or inside on a snowy day when you would like to be on the beach.

To learn about Barbara Bonfigli and Café Tempest, feel free to visit any of these sites.

Barbara Bonfigli’s website – www.cafetempest.com

Order Café Tempest directly from the publisher – http://www.tellmepress.com/pub_ct.php or from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Café-Tempest-Adventures-Small-Island/dp/0981645313

To see the complete tour schedule visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2009/05/cafe-tempest-by-barbara-bonfigli-summer.html

Lady Lightkeeper by Nikki Leigh

This is a review that was just posted for one of my novels. It is the second novel in the historic Misty Cove series and it is set along the Cape Ann coast of Massachusetts…

Lady Lightkeeper by Nikki Leigh
http://historicalromanceclub.com/index-R.html

Published: March 2007
Publisher: Write Words, Inc.
ISBN: 1594314098
Review Rating: 3.5 stars

Reviewer: Sandra Marlow

Tragedy has struck Lizbeth again. She hasn’t heard from her husband William in so many months. Sailing as captain of the Misty Pride II with his fishing crew, there has been no recent news about them at all. Lizbeth lost her father to the sea years ago when the keeper let the lighthouse that guards Misty Cove’s coastline go dark, and now going to that stalwart beacon makes her feel close to William. But she also has to take care of their children, Aiden and Marta. They’re so young and they don’t really understand why daddy has been away for so very long. And Lizbeth just can’t tell herself that William is never coming home. Not yet.

Trying to go on with life is difficult at times, but raising children alone, although with the help of friends, and being an active member of the community when needed at least gives Lizbeth a sense of family and accomplishment when she needs it most. People tell her that William would want her to move on, to find love again if possible. Even her surrogate mother, Sarah, knows Lizbeth must find a way to live again, but convincing her of that is nearly impossible right now. Putting aside eleven wonderful years of marriage with the love of her life is something Lizbeth just can’t do.

But when Lizbeth is selected to become the town’s lightkeeper when their current one must step down from his duties, her life starts on a new course, and even Lizbeth herself doesn’t realize how things are about to change. Taking her duties as the lady lightkeeper very seriously, she learns under the tutelage of Duncan Jones, the assistant keeper. Duncan is a stranger to the townsfolk of Misty Cove, but through his hard work and friendship with Lizbeth, he becomes important to their neighbors and to her heart. But it is not until a storm ravages the coast and she and Duncan must work together to save a boatful of fisherman that Lizbeth suddenly realizes what the man means to her.

But is she too late to let Duncan know what she feels for him? He is hurt during their rescue of the boat’s crew and Lizbeth is not sure she can withstand another loss of love. She now realizes that she must move on with her life; William will never be coming home, but is it a betrayal to her husband to love another? Will Duncan want to raise another man’s children? Will he understand that William will always have a place in heart? Is it too late for Lizbeth to be happy again?

Nikki Leigh’s Lady Lightkeeper is a heartwarming story of love, loss, and love regained amid terrible heartache and relevant issues of the time. Interesting tidbits about lighthouses and their keepers gives the story an added bonus. Ms. Leigh has done her homework well and you feel as though you are right there at the lighthouse during a storm. Secondary characters from Lizbeth’s children to the town shrew give the story depth. Second chance at love is always a wonderful read and Ms. Leigh does it justice.

The Sinner’s Guide to Confession by Phyllis Schieber

Take three best friends, each woman has her own life and family. They share just about everything – but each friend has a secret that she won’t share with her friends or family. Will people think less of her if they know the secret she is hiding? How will her life change if she admits the truth? Will her life be better if she shares the secret? Admitting the truth gives friends and family the chance to help her with the secret – is that what she wants?

Barbara, Kaye and Ellen live in New York and they are each around 50 years old. Barbara recently lost her husband when he died unexpectedly. Thankfully, she has a lucrative career as a romance author and an even more lucrative secret. Her children are grown and on their own, but she is their mother and children have certain expectations about what their mother’s should do.

Kaye has a life with her husband and her children are adults, but her relationship with her husband has grown stale – is her future with him or another man? She meets a man who makes her feel sexy and desired, that makes her “stale” relationship with her husband even harder to tolerate. What will the future bring for Kaye and her family?

Ellen was forced, by her parents, to give up her daughter for adoption. This made her relationship even more strained with her parents and siblings. This forced adoption is even harder to handle as Ellen is married and she is unable to become pregnant. Will Ellen be able to meet her long lost daughter and if she does, can they forge a relationship?

Each of these women has a strong support system in place, but she needs to make the decision to trust these people with the secrets she is hiding. Their journey to self discovery takes you on an interesting, touching, emotion and at times a humorous trek through the pages of The Sinners’ Guide to Confession. Female relationship stories are not usually my favorite reads, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and often found myself laughing at great one liners and other times reaching for tissues as I read this very well written book by Phyllis Schieber.

Phyllis Schieber is touring cyber space in January 2009 to promote Sinner’s Guide to Confession, for complete details – http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/12/sinners-guide-to-confession-by-phyllis.html

NIghts in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks

I have to start by saying that I don’t usually read “chick” books, but this book is set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and I love that area. One of my books is set about 20 miles south of Rodanthe (Lilah and the Locket by Nikki Leigh).

I love almost anything set on or near the coast, so I had to take a look.

The story is about a mother who is worried about her daughter. The daughter recently lost her husband and she’s having a hard time dealing with her life and her young children after her husband died. So, her mother feels that its time to share the details about a very special weekend she spent in Rodanthe. Although, she probably won’t share every little detail.

Our heroine – Adrienne – is still hurting from her husband leaving their marriage, her and their children. She assumes that she won’t find love again and the future doesn’t look especially good. A friend of her’s owns a bed and breakfast in Rodanthe, on the secluded Outer Banks of NC and she offers to be the hostess for a weekend when her friend has plans out of town.

There will only be one guest that weekend – an attractive man who is facing problems and a crossroads in his own life. Dr Paul Flanners is traveling to Rodanthe to meet with the husband of a patient who unexpectedly died on the table during surgery that should’ve been safe. An investigation revealed that he wasn’t negligent, but it is still hard to face the situation and to face this woman’s husband. Even though it is hard, he feels that he should respect the man’s request and he travels to Rodanthe.

We learn that Dr Paul has been a dedicated doctor who worked hard to build a thriving practice, often to the point of ignoring his duties to his wife and son. He has reached a point in his life where he is rethinking previous choices, sold his home, sold his practice and is heading out of the country to work with his son in a remote area.

Both of these people are dealing with a lot in their personal lives and maybe a new friend and a new perspective is just what they need. Add an impending storm and we have the recipe for an interesting weekend.

Adrienne and Paul get along from the start and its clear that there is an attraction, but they are each hestitant to act on that attraction. After this weekend, they won’t see each other again.

Shared conversation, working to prepare the house for the storm, and quiet dinners bring these two individuals closer and eventually, they stop fighting the attraction. Will it only be a couple of days of bliss? Will they see one another again? Why doesn’t Adrienne’s daughter know about this special man that entered her mother’s life? Wil Adrienne’s story help her daughter move on?

You will have to read the book to discover the answers or you can watch the new movie with Diane Ladd and Richard Gere. I was on the Outer Banks as the film crews were moving in, so I know that at least parts of the movie are filmed on location. The locale is gorgeous and I’m familiar with the house where the story takes place. I hope you enjoy your trip to Rodanthe, through the pages of the book or through the movie.

Below are some books that I personally own about the Outer Banks in case you want to learn more and my Cape Hatteras murder mystery is included :

Amazon.com Widgets

The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal

I thoroughly enjoyed Shobhan Bantwal’s first book, The Dowry Bride. It was well written and the glimpses into Indian culture were fascinating. Learning that paying or not paying a dowry could be a matter of life or death was shocking to me and she handled it very well in her book. So, I’ve been looking forward to reading her second book.

This weekend I took time to read The Forbidden Daughter and my wait was rewarded. The book is about female infanticide. That is the practice of killing female babies and unborn female babies. I’ve heard various reasons for female infanticide in India and that is one of the elements of this story. Are women less worthy or important than men? The characters have a variety of feelings about this question. Another element is the financial angle to performing abortions along with the social repercussions.

Isha Talik is drawn into this web of lies, deception and money when her obstetrician informs her and her husband that their unborn child is a girl. In an off handed comment, he says that he’s willing to perform an abortion if they want to be rid of this child. Isha and Nikhil vehemently insist they will have their child, but they realize Nikhil’s parents will want them to abort the child. The couple have one daughter and Isha knows her in laws treat her daughter Priya as less worthy than her male cousins. When the news is shared with the elder Taliks, they insist the child must be aborted.

This debate rages and is only interrupted late one evening when the family receives news that Nikhil was stabbed to death at his job. Isha, Priya and the in laws are all shaken by the news of Nikhil’s death. The news is especially devastating to his parents because Nikhil was their only son and he had no sons to carry on the family name. Life for Isha and Priya is tougher each day and after her father in law beats Priya, the young, pregnant widow walks out of the house – with almost no money and only some of her possessions.

Isha and Priya are taken in at the local convent and make their home in a small, bleak room and they wait for the birth of her daughter. The day after Diya is born, Isha is seen by the doctor who helps the convent. He was a student at the college Isha attended and he had a crush on her in school.

Doctor Harish Salvi becomes a very good friend and his affection for Isha and her children continues to grow over time. Isha is reunited with her sister in law Sheila. With Sheila and Dr Salvi, Isha finds the support she needs.

Over time things begin to look better for Isha and her family and her support network grows again. But, the story isn’t over and Isha must deal with a couple more concerns before the end. Isha and her closest confidantes realize who killed her husband and why. She has evidence of his wrong doing and the time stamp on the computer disc makes it very obvious, who is responsible for his murder. Will they go to the police? Will the murderer pay for his crime? Who else will have to pay for this man’s actions?

I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone, but I highly recommend this story. You will grow to admire, you will admire and cherish Dr Salvi and you will care what happens to Isha’s daughters. This book is a wonderful work from a talented author who share her knowledge of India with us.

Shobhan Bantwal is touring with Promo 101 Virtual Tours in October. Visit www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com for more details.