** Blog Tour ** A Kiss in Kashmir- Monica Saigal

I’m delighted to be one of today’s stops on the blog tour for ‘A Kiss in Kashmir.’

Sharmila, a painter entering the autumn of her life, had gently set aside hopes of love after a heart-wrenching loss. In Kashmir to orchestrate her daughter Alina’s wedding, Sharmila never anticipated that the universe was crafting a different plan—one of second chances and unexpected love.

She crosses paths with George, a professor of Indian art history and a kindred spirit bearing the weight of lost love. Together, they explore Kashmir’s lush valleys, snow-draped mountains, clear lakes, and ancient shrines. A fragile romance quietly blossoms, gently guiding their hearts toward a future neither dared to dream of.

Is it possible for a single glance to kindle a connection, or for one to find a soulmate twice?
Yet, as their burgeoning love blooms, a startling revelation threatens to cut their story short. With the breathtaking beauty of Kashmir as its canvas, “A Kiss in Kashmir” is a touching story of love, loss, and second chances.

 Purchase Links

Amazon (US): https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Kashmir-Timeless-Tale-Love-ebook/dp/B0CPX8FLQB

Amazon (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kiss-Kashmir-Timeless-Tale-Love-ebook/dp/B0CPX8FLQB

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-kiss-in-kashmir

Author Bio –

Equal parts storyteller and globe-trotter, Monica Saigal (Bhide), is an award-winning author, accomplished literary coach, and educator who transcends countless borders—chronological, geographical, religious, and economical—to inspire her readers. Born in New Delhi, raised in the Middle East, and now residing outside Washington, D.C., she currently serves as a corporate storyteller for one of the world’s leading professional services companies.

Monica writes in a variety of genres and has written best-selling short story collections and heartwarming love stories, as well as acclaimed memoirs and cookbooks—Eat Your Books chose Monica’s memoir, A Life of Spice as one of the top five food memoirs of 2015 and Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi picked Monica’s Modern Spice as one of the “Best Books Ever” for Newsweek in 2009. Her novel, Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken, is a book club favorite and inspired the NPR café in Washington, D.C., to serve up creations inspired by her protagonist chef. Her much anticipated upcoming novel, A Kiss in Kashmir was released in February 2024.

Social Media Links –

Website: https://monicasaigal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbhide

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monica.bhide1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicasaigalbhide/

Review-

“Kashmir has a way of getting deep into your soul, and once it does, you never want to let go.”

What a wonderfully evocative and captivating story! It had me yearning to visit to sample this piece of paradise for myself, such was the beauty of the depiction of the landscape and culture.

This is a tale of love through tragedy, family history, and a blend of cultures coming together in harmony.

The tagline ‘a timeless tale of love’ is especially apt. The narrative felt historical in places but was brought to the present day with current dates at the beginning of chapters and the mention of pandemic. It truly feels as though it could have been written for any time.

The warmth of the Kashmiri welcome for Sharmila and Alina is a delight, as is the open hospitality shown towards them and the blessing bestowed unconditionally upon them fosters a real sense of belonging.

Art is a prominent theme throughout; George is a professor of Indian art history, Vikram a painter and teacher, Daneen talented in textiles and Sharmila a talented artist and this helps to weave the narrative and characters together.

It’s no surprise to read the author has written several cookbooks of her own, as the mouthwatering descriptions of the traditional Kashmiri dishes are tantalising and authentic.

This is up there as one of my favourite reads so far this year.

With thanks to the author and Rachel at Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Further stops can be found here:

** Blog Tour ** Drumbeats- Julia Ibbotson

I’m thrilled to be today’s final stop on the blog tour for ‘Drumbeats.’

It’s 1965, and 18 year old Jess escapes her stifling English home for a gap year in Ghana, West Africa. But it’s a time of political turbulence across the region. Fighting to keep her young love who waits back in England, she’s thrown into the physical and emotional dangers of civil war, tragedy and the conflict of a disturbing new relationship. And why do the drumbeats haunt her dreams?

This is a rite of passage story which takes the reader hand in hand with Jess on her journey towards the complexities and mysteries of a disconcerting adult world.

This is the first novel in the acclaimed Drumbeats trilogy: Drumbeats, Walking in the Rain, Finding Jess.

For fans of Dinah Jefferies, Kate Morton, Rachel Hore, Jenny Ashcroft.

Purchase Link – https://books2read.com/Drumbeats1

Author Bio –

Award-winning author Julia Ibbotson herself spent an exciting time in Ghana, West Africa, teaching and nursing (like Jess in her books), and always vowed to write about the country and its past. And so, the Drumbeats Trilogy was born. She’s also fascinated by history, especially by the medieval world, and concepts of time travel, and has written haunting time-slips of romance and mystery partly set in the Anglo-Saxon period. She studied English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language, literature and history, and has a PhD in linguistics. She wrote her first novel at age 10, but became a school teacher, then university lecturer and researcher. Her love of writing
never left her and to date she’s written 9 books, with a 10th on the way. She’s a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, Society of Authors and the Historical Novel Society.

Social Media Links –

Author website: https://juliaibbotsonauthor.com/

Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/JuliaIbbotsonauthor

Twitter: @JuliaIbbotson https://twitter.com/JuliaIbbotson

Pinterest page: includes boards with pics and images that inspired each book https://www.pinterest.co.uk/juliai1/

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/juliaibbotson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia.ibbotson/

RNA (Romantic Novelists Association) website author page https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org/rna_author/julia-ibbotson/

Review-

After taking part in the triple cover reveal for the Drumbeats series, I was eagerly anticipating reading this first novel and was immediately drawn into the story.

I confess to not knowing much of Ghana’s history, either during or following the British Empire rule but became fascinated by the depiction of the uprising and civil war through the eyes of central character Jess.

It’s no surprise that the author spent time in Ghana herself, both teaching and nursing, as the descriptions of the setting, its people and its culture and customs are brought alive in the pages. This is a real strength of the narrative and had me yearning to visit their myself to witness the landscape and the contrasts between city and village life.

I loved Jess’ character and how her inner turmoil between being true to herself and representing her family’s Quaker beliefs was portrayed. Equally, I loved seeing her grow in confidence and self belief through her varied experiences on her ‘gap year’.

I thought the mystery surrounding Jim was perfectly executed, giving the reader the same dilemma as Jess. Does she know enough about him to trust him? What isn’t he telling her? However, he was also immensely likeable in his treatment of Jess and his obvious affection for her.

I found the ending slightly abrupt but, given this is the first of a trilogy, I suppose it’s only right that the reader is left with many unanswered questions. I’m certainly looking forward to reading the second instalment to discover what’s in store for Jess next.

This was a novel I didn’t want to put down and I’m already eager to read more so it comes highly recommended from me!

With thanks to the author and Rachel at Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Earlier stops can be found here:

Giveaway-

Giveaway to Win a Signed paperback copy of Drumbeats (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494572/