Mistress of the Throne by Ruchir Gupta

"Mistress of the Throne" by  Ruchir Gupta -  Story of the unwed Mughal queen. 

This book is published by Shrishti publishers and distributors in 2014 and has 312 pages.

This is the story of Jahanara, first born daughter of Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The story starts with Shahjahan's crowning and takes us through death of Mumtaz, sibling rivalry, building of Taj Mahal and Shahajahanabad, fight for throne etc. 

Who was Jahanara? Why was she the mistress of the throne? What were her choices? Was there live in her life?

It's how Jahanara sees the world from behind the veil, behind the curtain. She is a lovely lady, extremely beautiful, a spitting image of her mother. She is also in charge of building 'The structure' that would be later known as Taj Mahal. She also designed Shahajahanabad, later known as Delhi. Her internal struggles about love and rivalry between her brothers Dara and Aurangzeb. Sister Jahanara's hate of her. Controversies and politics. 

Although she has everything, she is forbidden to one thing that she longs most. To be loved. Mughal princesses are not allowed to marry. She is in love with Gabriel Boughton, a British doctor. But can't marry him. She joins the Sufi Qadriya order along with Dara. Here she finds peace of mind. She is also a witness to simmering tension between Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb. Her efforts of mediation are futile. She has to witness the bitter end of this fight. But she is loyal to the throne. Rumours of her affair with her father add to her misery.

The story is slow. Since Jahanara was restricted to Harem, she is normally away from action. The action comes to the readers as news or report, making it less exciting.  Character of Jahanara appears more helpless than in authority. Being queen of Mughal India, I expected her to wield more power. 

Author introduces mysticism and special powers to see what is happening elsewhere as literary liberty. It helps to take the story forward but appears incongruous. 

For one reason or other, I wansn't able to read this book continuously. It took more than a month to read it. This may be one of the reasons I found it less exciting. 

Credit to author for choosing to write about Jahanara, who despite being the queen is not talked about much. 

Why did I read this book? Mughal fiction. 

What I didn't like?  Not gripping. 

What did I like? Harem politics.

Read if toy have time. 

Everyone has a story by Savi Sharma

"Everyone has a story" by Savi Sharma - Story of Vivan and Maya. 

This book is published by  Westland in 2016 and has 184 pages.

Meera, a young and beautiful lady, is an aspiring writer who regularly attends book events and "Meet the author" events in her regular Cafe'. One day she meets Vivan in such an event. They strike friendship. She thinks he has a story but he directs her to the manager of Cafe', Kabir. Maya and Vivan come close. One day Vivan disappears. 

Are they just friends or more? Where is Vivan? What's his story? What's Kabir's story? Can Meera write a book?

Although it's a good story, most of it is predictable. Experienced readers get the drift early-on and the author follows the standard pattern of two strangers meeting, coming close, falling in love, separation, break up, incident and finally coming together to realize their dreams. 

At times author has been miser with words. In her attempt to make the story crisp and short, she has compromised on necessary build-up and creation of background. However, she has still managed to write a short and crisp novel. Her writing style is also refreshing. Credit to her for creating a story out of simple things in life like time spent in a Cafe'.

Vivan has a passion to travel. It's like obsession. But while reading the book it appears only to be a wish, a desire, not passion. So his actions later in the story appear sudden and unexpected.

Very late in the book author introduces a twist, a big one. This makes the story interesting but again their is no hidden hint or clue earlier in the story so it comes out of the blue and serves it's purpose of shock. 

Although the title of the book is 'Everyone has a story', this is only one story of Meera and Vivan with a side story of Kabir and Nisha that is not adequately covered. 

For a change, this story takes place in Pune. There are a few references like Shaniwar wada and Rajgad (near Pune). The book says that it takes 15-20 Lakh rupees to set up a new Cafe'. Appears to be way low than reality. 

Why did I read this book?  Predominantly displayed in book shops.

What I didn't like?  Predictable. 

What did I like?  Some flowery sentences, easy narration. 

A good change. Recommend reading. 

A place in the Sun by R. S. Grey

"A place in the Sun" by R. S. Grey - A romance.

This edition of book is published by Createspace in 2016 and has 346 pages. 

Gorgie, a beautiful young lady, fed up with her mother's efforts of match making, escapes from England to Italy. She wants to tan and find love. Here she meets a devastatingly handsome Italian guy, Gianluca. But this brooding hunk isn't interested. 

What is Georgie looking for? Will she like Italy? Will she find love? Why is Gianluca aloof?

The story takes place in Italy in the area called Cinque Terre, in the village of Vernazza. It's a beautiful setting. Picturesque rural Italy with sea inn one side and mountain on other.

Georgie wants to befriend Gianluca but he is not approachable. He tries to avoid her. But Georgie decides to make him a friend and perseveres until Gianluca relent.

Is love in the offing? When the happy end approaches, a secret is revealed. Gianluca does not take the final step, holds back. Can Georgie and Luca find their place in the Sun?

Narration is very good. Apart from the details of amorous encounters, it's a clean romance. There is no villain, but circumstances. You know how it will end but you want to know what happens in between. 

I remember that when I was in Italy in late 1990s, movie 'Un posto al Sole' was making waves, although, I did not watch it then. When I saw the book I instinctively decided to read it.

Why did I read this book? The movie. 

What I didn't like?  Umm.....

What did I like? Story and execution

Recommend reading. 

Without warning by Joel C. Rosenberg

"Without warning" by Joel C. Rosenberg - strange!

This book is published by  Tyndale House Pub in 2017 and has 567 pages. This is Book 3 of JB Collins series. 

President Harrison Tailor is captured by Abu Khalif, Emir of Islamic Khalifet, but he is rescued with help of War correspondent JB Collins. Collins feels that the President is not being tough enough towards ISIS. America witnesses wide spread terrorist attacks on its  capital and other cities. Family of Collins is attacked. Collins decides to go his own way. 

Why does American President chicken out? Why 'Without warning'? What makes Mossad collaborate? Why take extreme step?

Collins is a recovering alcoholic, divorced, war correspondent for The Times. He is the only westerners who has seen and talked to Abu Khalif. He has tender feelings for a beautiful Israeli spy. When his family is endangered, he is determined. 

The biggest question that begs answer is the behaviour of President. Why is President reluctant to launch man hunt for Abu Khalif? If the terrorist had captured the President of America and threatened to execute him live, it is expected that the country will throw all their might to capture and kill that terrorist. But the President doesn't. Readers never come to know the reason till the end.

Although Collins is the only westerners who has seen and talked to Abu Khalif, What unique thing does he bring to the table for Mossad to make an exception and take him on board? How to take the battery of iPhone out? This and such questions remain open. 

Mohammed Bin Zayed is a character in this book. Here he is head of UAE's secret service. UAE, Jordan and Israel come together to hunt Abu Khalif.

Author had probably realized that the recipe did not come out as good as he wanted and hence introduces a twist at the end to pack a punch. Well it does pack a punch but also raises many questions. Primarily, why the terrorists did not relocate when JB found them?

It's a strange story. Unrealistic!

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Story. 

What did I like? Umm...

Give it a miss.

Nooners by James Patterson and Tim Arnold

"Nooners" by James Patterson and Tim Arnold - Too predictable. 

This book is published by Bookshots in 2017 and has 128 pages.

Tim Mcgee is an Ad man. He is good at his job and is number 2 in his firm, has a beautiful wife, two kids and a plush house. However, he is living beyond his means and is maxed out. Three murders occur. Each victim is related to Tim's firm. 

Who is murdered? Why? What's the common thread? Is Tim suspected?

The story develops nicely. With every new murder, there is mystery. Incidentally Tim had met each of the victim on the day of murder. As the story progresses, new facets of Tim's personality become evident. 

However, the twist readers are waiting for never comes. Reader waits and waits and waits. The book is over with the most obvious conclusion without any twist. And then the readers think 'What the heck?'.

Reference to Nooners is limited to affair in this book, it has nothing to do with the time of the day. The name could have been anything else. 

Can someone be so naive not to take any care about not being noticed or not being found in possession of murder weapon?  Why does it take three murders for police to doubt Tim? That's why the end appears hasty, without enough and proper thought and also clumsy.

Why did I read this book?  Quick read. 

What did I like?  Early development. 

What I didn't like? Conclusion. 

AVOID.

King Solomon's curse by Andy McDermott

"King Solomon's curse" by  Andy McDermott -  Very lengthy

This  book is published by  Headline in 2017 and has 560 pages. 

Subsequent to the find of The arc of covenant, two books ago, a joint Israeli - Jordanian expedition along with a TV crew led by Nina Wilde (Yes, nowadays she is doing films and books) opens first temple of Solomon. There they find a scaled model of Zhakana, city of the damned. Another expedition is hastily put together to the jungles of eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo (Former Zaire) and Eddy joins in. Soon danger finds its way.

Do they find Zhakana? What is it? Where is  the mother of Shamir? What is the danger? Which enemy from past will raise it's head?

The book is divided into two parts. One is the story in Middle East and DRC. The discovery of Zhakana, the palace without entrance and Shamir. Second part is the attack on UK parliament. Since the two sections are two different stories, it's not a cohesive book. The two stories are lengthy thereby making this book too lengthy. Towards the end, I went through motions waiting for the book to finish. 

A different angle is that MI6 is shown as active post Brexit and looking for mineral resources. There is a negative element within MI6 that claims to do things in the interest of nation. This puts Eddy in quandary. Patriotism Vs doing the right thing. 

As usual the book has awesome and awful jokes of Eddy, genius of Nina, action, a lot of violence, many deaths, booby traps set thousands of years ago that still work, discovery of something that defies logic, validation of a legend etc.

This book is neither as exciting nor as interesting as others. But it has as much violence and deaths in it. 

Give it a miss. 

Why did I read this book?  Andy McDermott. 

What I didn't like? Length. 

What did I like? Concept of Shamir. 

 Read, if you have read the series. 

To kill the President by Sam Bourne

"To kill the President" by Sam Bourne - Strong plot weak execution. 

This book is published by  HarperCollins in July 2017 and has 416 pages.

A volatile new President has taken office in USA backed by his strategist, Crawford McNamara. America comes to within 10 seconds of nuking North Korea and China as a retaliation to a provocative statement issued by Pyong Yang. Maggie, a white house staffer and trouble shooter for previous President, has decided to continue for current administration. Robert Cassian, Chief of staff, and Jim Bruton, Secretary of defense, are perplexed and powerless.

Does anyone have power to stop this freak President? Who can help them? What are their options? To kill the President? How's Maggie involved?

The new President is a white supremacist, has divisive policies, is unpredictable, volatile, is diabetic & overweight and has extremely low attention span and has won when no one expected him to win. He has a young married daughter and a young wife. Whenever he spoke on television it was either appalling or lie or both. 'Not my President' placards are everywhere. Sounds familiar?

Maggie Costello works in the office of Chief council. She was an expert trouble shooter for previous President and is in relationship with her colleague Richard. She unearths the plot to kill the President. She is torn between the two choices. Let the assassination happen and get the country rid of this tyrant and monster or save the President and democracy.

The story starts with a promise. It appears that execution of assassin is the real plot. But it isn't. Maggie's investigation and actions is the real plot.  Story is fast until the assassinating attempt but then becomes slower.  Sudden introduction of Rosemary helps to conclude the story. 

This book includes an entire talk show, a couple of news bulletins. Was it done to fill pages? The same could have been done with less pages. 

There are several weak spots in the story. How do they know that assassin will shoot the President in chest and not head? Why would Bob and Jim accept the position in new administration? The decision to kill the President appeared to have come very quickly.

They appear naive for someone to uncover plot.  Maggie's unearthing of pit is based on circumstantial evidence and deduction. No hard evidence. Final twist appears more like a fluke than plan.

Author has to be given credit for giving a Provocative title to the book. The cover with a gun in American flag colours is also a match to the title. This was my first Sam Bourne novel.

All said and done, the question of morality about killing a democratically elected President for greater good remains for the readers to decide. 

Why did I read this book?  Title and blurb.

What I didn't like? Execution. 

What did I like? Concept.

 Not a must read.