Love's Labor by Andy Paula

Name of the book: Love’s Labor

Name of the Author: Andy Paula

ISBN 0991960017 (ISBN13: 9780991960019)
Disclaimer: I got a copy of this novella via The Tales Pensieve in exchange of my honest review.

Blurb from Goodreads....

 Piali Roy has run away from home and the two stubborn men who love her. One is her beloved Baba; a rigid traditionalist, he refuses to accept anyone from outside her caste and community. And then there is Sathya, the unsuitable outsider. He loves her truly, madly, deeply and has even called off his marriage for her sake. Neither man will budge, and the small   town of Jampot, where everyone knows everything, is not big  enough for the two of them. Away from their unreasonable demands, Piali strives to find peace in the mountains. But within six months, her lover tracks her down. Once again, she betrays the one by trusting the other. Will her labor in the name of love be in vain, or will love transcend all differences?

The Review

The most impressive thing about this novella is its simplicity. The story of a simple, Bengali school teacher falling in love with the chairman’s son. As with the other stories of Indireads, I found that this simple tale too has a moral behind it. It is not about just sex or love. It is about values and respect.

When Piali falls in love with Sathya they find many hurdles in their path. Piali is from a staunch Bengali family and Sathya is from a Malayali family. The former is a simple, middle class family while the other belongs to the elite society.

And to top it up, Sathya was engaged to the Principal's daughter. But despite all the obstructions in their love affair, they still fell in love. But what proved to be the strongest opposition in their path is Mr. Roy, Piali’s father. It was something he believed in and his staunchness was deep rooted which even his love for his daughter could not reject. So how would the two star crossed lovers meet? Will they elope or is it the end of their love affair? As I have told you earlier, it is the morality and the purity of the story that attracted me most. This story might restore your faith in true love, where the guy would go to any length to get his girl even to the extent of ..........[find out:)]

Rating… 

Reasoning…

Both Piali and Sathya’s characters are beautifully portrayed. Piali as a teacher is very likable and Sathya as the Chairman’s son, who is supposed to take up the reins from his parents, has a very dashing personality. I also liked the way Andy Paula has chosen the hard way for the lovers, making their love more pure and relatable. [I can hear many clicking of tongues and I am sure some of you might throw a stone or two. Bring it on!!!] My argument would be in India it is still a marriage between two families, so pleasing everyone is a bit tough  J

The shortness of the story was a bit disappointing. [And this is meant as a compliment!!].  There were some social issues raised in this novella which caught my eye. It had nothing to do with the story, but a comment regarding the teacher’s profession. To quote…..

“She’d  seen  enough  of  life  to   know that most who came for interviews were teachers by chance. They opted to teach when they could not find their dream jobs or if they had time to kill. But this girl was a teacher by choice.”

A bit of a generalization, but it cannot be argued that many housewives in India who have free time, become teachers. And the end result can affect our future generation, if properly trained teachers are not recruited.

Another issue which holds dear to my heart, is the questions raised regarding intercaste marriages.Being a Bengali married to a Tamilian myself, I know the difficulties such alliances face before the knot is tied. Why are such marriages still questioned in modern India? Will a day ever come when we Indians seek out a groom or a bride for our kids based on the persons merits and not on the basis of his stars and language or religion?

Would I recommend this book to my readers… Definitely. How can I not? Such a short novella and packed with so many social issues.You will want to finish this novella at one go. I can guarantee you that. Happy reading!!!

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About the Author

Andy Paula is a corporate trainer by profession and a writer by vocation. After the innumerable essays, poems, articles, editorials, congratulations & condolence letters she wrote for herself and others refused to satiate her writer's Self, she finally put herself seriously to the task and wrote Love's Labor,a romance novella that is now on Goodreads. 

To know more about the versatile author click here.

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A Hint of Scandal (The Sensational Stanton Sisters #1) by Tara Pammi

Name of the book:              A hint of scandal

Name of the author:            Tara Pammi

Publisher:                             Harlequin Presents

ASIN:                                    B00CFX3AOI

Review…

Olivia  Stanton is getting married. Then why wasn't she happy as a new bride should be? Olivia Stanton is not the person who should be wearing the bridal gown on the wedding day, but it should have been her twin sister Kimberly. But Kimberly is missing from her own wedding and Olivia had to step in the shoes of Kimberly to marry Alexander. The only problem was Alexander doesn't know about this.

Bride switching doesn't go down well with Alexander, specially when his feelings for Olivia is nothing but contempt. But due to certain circumstances he has to accept Olivia as his wife till he doesn't find a way to come out of this situation. 

Olivia on the other hand is only concerend about her sister, Kimberly, for she felt that she owed it to Kimberly for all the times she has been there for her. But what they had not thought of or taken into consideration was the fact that they would be attracted to each other. Olivia always felt that she had goofed up in the past and Alexander does not have a great opinion about her. In fact, he was of the opinion that if he had married the other twin, Kimberly, he would have told her to stay away from the selfish Olivia.

But he finds her earthy sexiness so bewitching. But Alexander is a man haunted by a past and that past had taught him not to love in the future. So, would they both able to overcome their past and start their future with  a clean slate.

Rating...

Reasoning...

The story was a delightful read. The characters are strong, the storyline was neat, and the lovemaking scenes were hot without being sleazy. The sense of humor and the bantering between the two main protagonists was just right. Sometimes you would get angry at the pigheadedness of Alexander, but why he was like that has also been justified.

What I liked most about this book was the quirkiness of the characters. While Olivia has been always prone to do wrong, Alexander's possessiveness towards his family members was equally heart touching.

The only question that was left hanging in this book was why did Kimberly runaway. Though it was explained, but the explanation was more to pique your curiosity than satisfy it. Clear indication that it is a must to read the next in series of The Stanton sisters.

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About the Author...

Tara Pammi can't remember a moment when she wasn't lost in a book, especially a romance which, for a teenager, was much more exciting than mathematics textbook. Before long, she was hiding romance novels within bigger textbooks, smuggling them into the home through her unsuspecting younger cousin’s school bag, and cycling more than a few miles to her favorite library to borrow more. 

Through numerous ‘true’ loves :-) and traveling thousands of miles from family and friends, her attachment to books and especially romance novels stayed constant.

 One fine day, toiling away as a grad student in a basement lab, Tara started typing the beginning of a story instead of her thesis. But it wasn’t until years later, encouraged by her real life hero, Tara realized what she truly wanted to do was to write.

Tara lives in Texas with her real life hero and her two little girls. When she isn't writing or reading, Tara can be found failing in the kitchen, watching TV or making resolutions to exercise more, or even a little

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