Salem’S Ropes by Joseph C. Gioconda

“The afflicted complained that disembodied spirits were stabbing them, choking them, and jabbing them with needles and pins. Soon names were cried out as the afflicted began to identify these specters.” – An excerpt from Salem’s Ropes by Joseph C. Gioconda #salem #witch #witchhunt #hauntedhouse #horror

The Girl in Cell 49B

To say that Emily Calby’s sweet sixteen birthday was far from normal would be the understatement of the year. On her sixteenth birthday, she got arrested for carrying an illegal weapon. As she lived anonymously under a fake name, this arrest threatened her true identity being revealed to the world. As a murder charge got added to her original charges, her anonymous life should have been the least of her concerns. Soon, she found herself behind bars in a juvenile prison. Any hope she had of having an easy trial evaporated the moment she came face to face with Leslie, vindictive prosecutor hellbent on getting the “little gutter rat” (Emily Calby) thrown into an adult prison for life. The second book in the Emily Calby series, The Girl in Cell 49B by Dorian Box is the gripping tale of a sixteen-year-old who, like a phoenix from the ashes, rises from her anger issues and guilt of the past. But would she survive the law that has many exceptions attached to each rule?

Revenge is Reason Enough

Isabella Steel brings forth a huge scoop of politics, conspiracies, murders, and media-jungle in Revenge is Reason Enough. When Congress shut down the government, they indirectly signed the murder warrant of the loved ones of many families. One such family were of Alex Conway. Having lost his wife a while back, his daughter was everything to him. When she fell ill, he rushed to the hospital, only to be informed that due to the shutdown, CHIP insurance was stopped. CHIP insurance would have provided the necessary treatment to his dying daughter. Subsequently, she passed away, leaving Alex burning with fury and vengeance. So, when a twist of fate offered him unlimited resources, he planned the best revenge for the untimely death of his daughter. Washington DC was burning with not only Alex’s revenge-plan, but also by the corruption, insensitivities, and follies of an incompetent President. Not just his staff but the whole country had become a laughing stock, courtesy of President Glass.

Soul Strung by Rachel Hobbs

When a demon lord finds himself attracted to a mere human, the world is sure to be thrown into chaos and mayhem. Soul-Strung by Rachel Hobbs, the second book in Stones of Power, makes the readers privy to this incredible action, complicated passion, and intriguing wit. Drayvex, the demon lord, knew nothing about human emotion — or any emotion other than fury — until his paths crossed with Ruby. To say that she rocked his world would be an understatement of all time. Where the deadliest of demons trembled in his presence, Ruby challenged him with her clever remarks and unwavering defiance. He found it impossible to peel himself away from her thoughts. So, when another demon, Saydor, set his eyes on Ruby, the hell was sure to be unleashed. Destroying Saydor wasn’t a difficult task for Drayvex; however, finding him was proving to be a headache. To save her life, Drayvex must find the object that can turn back time. But, like most things, this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park; not when his sworn enemy, a fae, was protecting the said object.

The Liar Next Door

The Liar Next Door by Nicola Marsh begins with Francesca, aka Frankie, and her perfect life. At the outset, her life with her husband, Andre, daughter, Luna, and her successful vlog career appears perfect. Once the audience manages to peek through the many layers of perfection, at the core, none of it is perfect. Andre had cheated on her, and although she took him back, in her heart, she is unable to trust him completely. With that suspicion lurking inside, the cost of keeping a flawless front for the world is taking a toll on her. Unaware of her internal conflicts and turmoil, her new neighbor, a single mother named Celeste, envies Frankie for her lifestyle. For the sake of her daughter, however, she attempts to bond with Frankie. It’s crucial for her that her daughter, Vi, forms a connection with Luna. Nevertheless, when Frankie learns about Celeste’s dark past, she finds herself conflicted about allowing this friendship to blossom. Unbeknownst to both of them, another scandal is on the brink of revealing itself. Their neighbor, Saylor, both married and pregnant, is finding herself in a very peculiar situation. As much as she loves her husband, she cannot deny the strong feelings she has for one of her neighbors. One thing is common amongst them all: none of them seem to trust Celeste completely.

A Monsoon Lament: A Mumbai Romance

Four entirely different people live in four separate flats of an apartment complex, The Palm Oasis Residences, in Mumbai.  Although much varied than one another in their lifestyles, fears, and hopes, these four people were the same in one aspect: each one of them was equally lost. For instance, Asavari, the housewife — a victim in a loveless marriage — appeared worlds apart from Ravin, the lone painter — living in the past. At the outset, these two characters had nothing in common, yet deep within, they were quite similar. Both Sharat, an entrepreneur, and Evana, a fashion model, establish the age long words of wisdom of never judging a book by its cover.

Jeep Tour by Gail Ward Olmsted

The mysteries of love are as complicated as the webs woven by the spiders. However, can love be found by simply following one’s happiness? In this contemporary fiction, Jeep Tour, Gail Ward Olmsted takes the readers on an exploration of sorts to solve this riddle. Jackie Sullivan, aka Jax, has lived a very organized life, following rules. And still, she finds herself unfulfilled. Even after getting a divorce, Jax and Robbie, her ex-husband, find ways to stay in each other’s lives and beds. This already tricky equation is further complicated when Jax takes a trip to Sedona. The backdrop of the desert becomes all the more fascinating when she falls for her tour guide, Rick. For the first time in her life, she takes a leap of faith and moves to Sedona, leaving her life behind, to give herself a second chance. Her hopes, however, come crashing down when she realizes Rick, the most important factor of her move, doesn’t even remember her. What follows is a series of sleepless nights and stubborn doubts as she attempts to make sense of her life.

Landscape of a Marriage

More often than not the sacrifices, intellect, and devotion of the partners of famous personalities are forgotten. They live in the shadows of the many accomplishments of these stars. In Landscape of a Marriage, Gail Ward Olmsted gives life to Mary Olmsted who was the wife of the famous American landscape architect, Frederick Olmsted. When Mary lost her first husband to tuberculosis, she turned to his family for help with raising three young kids. What she received in return was nothing short of a blessing. Her deceased husband’s brother, Fred, offered to marry her. Although this was a marriage born out of obligation, it soon transformed into a beautiful union of love. As Mary and Fred overcame the early conflicts of marriage, they became stronger as a couple. Together, they weathered many storms that life threw at them: loss of loved ones, financial upheavals, and emotional turmoil. Amidst the chaos, Mary stood tall like an unwavering soldier holding the fort in Fred’s long absences. Unaware of her contributions, she extended all the credit to her husband. Toward the end, however, the realization that she was the integral part of his success became the highlight of her journey.

Primed for Vengeance

Primed for Vengeance by Gill D Anderson is a nail-biting Crime Thriller, cleverly entwined with human psychology and intriguing suspense. Butch is a sadist who finds joy in petrifying people by his horrid actions and formidable looks. To a stranger, he resembles a devil’s minion. Although he enjoys projecting this persona, he cannot waste precious time indulging in this hobby of his; mainly because he is on a mission to kill a woman he called “Heartbreaker.” Since this is his only mission in life, he wishes to formulate a plan that will ensure maximum pain to the “Heartbreaker,” and consequently, a paramount satisfaction to him.

Author Talks: Pramudith D.

Anki: Is the idea of Bayan, in some way, inspired by Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom?
Pramudith D. Rupasinghe: No, It was a random idea that came to my mind during my time in Ukraine after I met Ivan, but if you look at both books, you may see that the world we see as young people is way more profound in the eyes of the old. So I would say why I have Mitch has seen the same and thought putting the same idea into a book? Because we both found it essential to tell the world. And I am from Sri Lanka, and he is from the USA, and irrespective of our cultural and contextual differences, we have recognized it. That is the beauty.

To read the full interview, go to the post. Enjoy!